Red Sox’s Jarren Duran Finalist For Award After Offensive Breakout

Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran stood tall as one of three team representatives named to July’s All-Star Game in Texas. Now, the 28-year-old stands taller among the league’s most elite sluggers nominated for the 2024 Hank Aaron Award.

Duran was named among 20 finalists, including 10 in the American League, in contention for the award following a history-making campaign as Boston’s most reliable starting outfielder. He logged a career-high 160 appearances, batted .285 with 21 home runs and 75 RBIs, and became MLB’s first player, ever, to notch 40 doubles (48), 30 stolen bases (34), 20 home runs (21) and 10 triples (14) — doing so while also playing an elite outfield by recording a .984 fielding percentage in 374 defensive chances.

Joining teammate and fellow first-time All-Star Tanner Houck for the Midsummer Classic at Globe Life Field, Duran took home All-Star Game MVP honors — Boston’s first since J.D. Drew in 2008 — after crushing a go-ahead home run to put the A.L. on top for good in the bottom half of the fifth inning.

Duran consistently utilized his team-best speed to effectively impact games. Stretching singles into extra bases, tracking down flyouts and finishing the year with a career-best 34 stolen bases made Duran a lead-by-example member of Boston’s clubhouse. With the Red Sox leaning to their wave of youngsters to establish themselves, Duran poses an ideal blueprint of how to approach each game throughout the season — going full-throttle from Opening Day to Game 162.

“When we talk about consistency, posting and playing the game right, this guy is (expletive) amazing,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Duran when All-Star rosters were revealed. “We got kids here and I bet if you want your kids to become big leaguers and play the game the right way, you’re going to tell them to take a look at Jarren Duran, (expletive) All-Star!”

New York Yankees outfielders Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, Baltimore Orioles teammates Gunnar Henderson and Anthony Santander, Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez, Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez and Oakland Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker are among the other A.L candidates. The Red Sox haven’t had a Hank Aaron Award winner since J.D. Martinez in 2018.