Red Sox’s Jarren Duran Opens Up Before Return From Suspension Vs. Rangers

BOSTON -- Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran returned to the lineup just in time for the team's series finale against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park after serving a two-game suspension issued by the organization.

Duran, who will lead off and play left field on Wednesday night, directed an inappropriate slur at a heckling fan during Sunday's game against the Houston Astros. The live telecast caught Duran's audio in the batter's box, prompting the Red Sox to step in and separate the team's most reliable player, and the 2024 MLB All-Star Game MVP, from the clubhouse -- Duran had logged 116 appearances through Boston's first 116 games.

"I'm just excited to be back with my teammates," Duran said. "I can't really put it into words (what the suspension was like). It was just a mistake that I made and I just had to deal with those two days by myself, and it was tough. ... I'm still kind of upset at myself and I know there's a lot of people upset at me. So I don't know how I'm gonna take today but I'm just gonna go out there and try to focus on some baseball."

Duran added: "I'm just gonna try and support all my teammates and use them to lean on in times like this."

The 27-year-old had previous run-ins with not-so-friendly fans in attendance. In August 2022, during his rookie season in Boston, Duran misplayed a fly ball in center field and committed an uncharacteristic error against the Kansas City Royals. Duran claimed the rowdy road crowd hurled objects toward him in the outfield, which sparked a back-and-forth between Duran and the fans. Fast forward two years later and Duran's no longer an inexperienced rookie in search of his footing in the big leagues. He's now a pivotal part of Boston's postseason-hungry squad, now making a name for himself as one of the elite outfielders in MLB. Duran has batted .291/.350/.503 with 14 home runs, 36 doubles, 13 triples, 58 RBIs and 29 stolen bases -- all career-highs -- while ranking fifth in total hits in all of MLB (143) thus far; trailing Jose Altuve (144), Luis Arraez (147), Vladamir Guerrero Jr. (147) and Bobby Witt Jr. (168).

"He looks good. He looks ready to play," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "Obviously there's other stuff that is going on for him to keep getting better off the field, but on the field just go out there and compete. He's done that throughout the season so I wouldn't be surprised if he goes out there and hits a home run."