Red Sox’s Alex Cora Candidly Assesses Jarren Duran’s Struggles

No one is hitting for the Red Sox right now, even the bats the club can typically count on.

Jarren Duran didn’t really pick up where he left off after putting together an All-Star season for Boston in 2024. The outfielder struck out nine times in his last six games and only has two extra-base hits on the campaign to date. The lack of knocks also has prevented Duran from doing damage on the base paths, where he only has three steals.

As the Red Sox’s bonafide table-setter, Duran’s lingering struggles are particularly troubling for Alex Cora’s club. The veteran manager addressed those woes head-on before Monday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

“All over the place,” Cora told reporters about Duran’s at-bats, per MassLive. “Sometimes patient, sometimes too aggressive. He’s getting into swing mode in certain at-bats and swinging and missing a lot. That’s the reality of it.”

Boston very well could experience a positive ripple effect once Duran turns things around. One of baseball’s most dynamic sparkplugs, the fifth-year pro has the exact skill set of a player who can galvanize a lineup in the blink of an eye.

Duran will try to do so Tuesday when the Red Sox and Rays meet for the middle game of their series. NESN’s complete coverage of the divisional tilt begins at 6 p.m. ET.