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Alex Cora explains why Boston Red Sox’ Jarren Duran (.172) is struggling
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- Alex Cora explains why Boston Red Sox’ Jarren Duran (.172) is struggling
BOSTON — Manager Alex Cora said Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran has struggled at the plate recently because he’s chasing pitches outside of the strike zone.
Cora said that’s something Duran didn’t do early in the season when he drew four walks in his first four games. Since then, the speedster has just two walks in 12 games (53 plate appearances).
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“He was walking, right, the first week of the season,” Cora said before Monday’s game. “Him and Willson (Contreras), they weren’t getting hits, but they were walking. And now he’s not doing that.”
Duran’s 34.7% chase percentage is in the 23rd percentile in the major leagues, an increase from 31.1% in 2025 and 28.1% in 2024, his best season.
Overall, Duran entered Monday batting .172 (11 for 64) with a .254 on-base percentage, .266 slugging percentage and .519 OPS in 16 games. He has only four extra-base hits, three doubles and one home run.
His underlying metrics are similarly troubling. He ranks in the 21st percentile in expected batting average (.212), 26th percentile in expected weighted on-base percentage (.286) and 29th percentile in expected slugging percentage (.344).
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Cora said Duran was “all over the place” in Monday’s game in Minnesota when he homered but also chased pitches and took pitches right down the middle.
“Kind of like slow it down, even a bunt or something. Just get going,” Cora said. “We need him to run the bases, do what he does. Hit one in the gap and stretch it out to a triple or one of those ground balls that get through and get to second and get the energy going. We need it as a group, he needs it as a player.”
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