Over the following week or so Purple Sox outfielder Jarren Duran will spend a number of time at a distinct spot than regular.
However earlier than followers begin leaping to any conclusions, Duran isn’t altering positions completely.
Chatting with reporters in Fort Myers, Duran stated supervisor Alex Cora knowledgeable him on Monday that since he might be taking part in proper area for Staff Mexico within the World Baseball Traditional, he’ll get extra time than ordinary in proper to ensure he’s ready for the event.
“(Cora) got here as much as me as we speak and stated you’re going to play proper area within the WBC so let’s get you prepared for that,” Duran stated.
“Hopefully we will get him in video games taking part in that place. Get him prepared as a result of it’s honest for the participant, honest for the federation and honest for us,” Cora stated later. “As a result of if he’s going to play proper area he higher be prepared as a result of it is going to be laborious for me to be watching a recreation after which unexpectedly he will get harm as a result of he wasn’t ready for that.”
All through his large league profession Duran has primarily performed in left and heart area for the Purple Sox. Final season he performed 139 video games in left, 28 in heart and solely two in proper. The 12 months prior it was 105 in heart, 83 in left and none in proper.
Total Duran has solely appeared in 10 video games at proper area since debuting in 2021, and because the Purple Sox have two-time Gold Glove winner Wilyer Abreu as soon as once more slated to start out in proper this 12 months, Cora indicated Duran received’t play the place once more a lot after the WBC is over.
“We’ve received one of the best defender within the large leagues,” Cora stated. “In fact we’ll want any individual else as a result of we’ll want to offer him some days, however we’ll see the place we’re at. Roman (Anthony) performed nice in proper area final 12 months too.”
This spring will mark Duran’s second time taking part in for Mexico within the WBC. The final time round in 2023 he was a seldom used bench participant who solely received 5 at bats in six video games, however this time he’s projected to play a a lot bigger position.
Regardless of that, Duran stated the WBC is among the most electrical baseball he’s ever been part of, and he’s grateful for the chance to signify Mexico, the nation the place his father was born.
“It means so much, I do know we stay within the states and it’s USA however for me and my dad it looks like I’m representing him,” Duran stated. “Meaning so much to me as a result of I really feel like he at all times takes a step behind me and this type of helps me signify him in a method, and I don’t get to do this so much. It’s an enormous honor for me.”
