Red Sox

“He’s just done a good overall job fine-tuning his offensive game.”

Jarren Duran is having his best year offensively since being promoted to the Red Sox, and Triston Casas hopes the outfielder gets rewarded for it.

Casas appeared on NESN’s broadcast of Red Sox-Yankees on Friday night when he heaped praise on Duran, hoping yo get some extra votes towards the MLB All-Star game for his teammate. If Duran is voted to the team, it’ll be his first All-Star appearance since his major league debut in 2021.

Casas went on to list all of the areas where Duran ranks highly among American League outfielders: second in hits, second in doubles, second in stolen bases, third in batting average, and fourth in runs. All while leading the entire MLB in triples.

“He’s just done a good overall job fine-tuning his offensive game,” Casas said of Duran. “Over the last four years consecutively, he’s lowered his strikeout percentage … he’s just become a really good overall player, and for him to get the love that he’s getting is truly everything he deserves.”

Casas also credited Duran with his occasional routine of standing in the batters box without a bat while the Red Sox pitchers throw. Duran noted that the eyes are one of the most important tools the body has, and Casas is keeping them sharp even while on the injured list.

Duran’s consistency this season makes him one of the bright spots in Boston. Friday marked his 70th consecutive start of the season, meaning on top of putting quality offense and defense together, Duran’s been consistently available in the lineup.

Among his more impressive feats of the year, Duran has stolen home twice in 2024. The first came against the Tampa Bay Rays in late May, and the second came in a much less conventional way against the Chicago White Sox in June.

Duran is batting .273 with 30 RBI and five home runs. That likely won’t earn him a spot among the AL starters, especially considering how loaded the outfield group is in the American League, headlined by Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. But, he’s positioned himself well for a reserve spot in the All-Star game on July 16.

The first phase of All-Star voting is active now through June 27th, to select the starters. The second phase begins June 30th.