Duran Makes Debut

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 Written By: Matt Ferreira

Image via Bryan Simmons-Hayes/ Worcester Red Sox


 On Friday the Boston Red Sox officially called up their number three, also the number eighty-six prospect in all of baseball, Jarren Duran. Duran was in the starting lineup Thursday night against the Yankees, but the game was postponed due to several Yankees players testing positive. On Saturday Duran was in the lineup, set to make his Major League debut, batting sixth against the highest paid pitcher in baseball ever, Gerrit Cole. 


 This is no easy feat for Duran to make his debut in the biggest rivalry in sports, on the road, and against one of the best pitchers in the game today, but Duran was ready to accept that challenge. First pitch swinging, Duran hit a line drive up the middle for a single off Gerrit Cole for his first career Major League hit. After being moved over to second on a Vazquez ground ball, Duran scored his first career Major League run on a single by Christian Arroyo to put the Red Sox up one to nothing in the top of the second inning.



 In his second at bat Duran watched strike one on a curveball up and away from Cole. Then showed his vision watching ball one on a low and inside changeup. Cole almost drilled Duran with an inside fastball before spiking a cutter in the dirt to give Duran a 3-1 count. Duran watched an inside curve for strike two to run the count full. Duran got blown away on a 99 mile per hour fastball from Cole after a fight of an at bat where he showed his advanced vision and pitch selection.


 In his third at bat Duran came up in a crucial spot with a runner on first and second and two outs in the sixth inning with the score tied one to one. Cole missed with an uncompetitive curveball to give Duran an early lead in the count, but followed it up with absolute paint on the outside corner to make it 1-1. Duran showed off his plate discipline again, laying off the high fastball from Cole which may be tempting to other batters. Duran took ball three high and away to give him a three one hitters count and watched ball four on a two seam fastball to load the bases for Christian Vazquez. 


 Duran’s debut did not come without controversy, in the sixth inning a fan threw a ball at Red Sox left fielder Alex Verdugo and after getting into a verbal altercation Duran had to come over and calm down Verdugo in the outfield.



 After the sixth inning the game went into a rain delay as the Yankees took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the inning. After about a forty minute delay the game officially ended as the Yankees got their first win against the Red Sox this season making their record 1-7. Duran is expected to be in the lineup again tomorrow with righty Jameson Taillon on the mound for the New York Yankees.

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