![]() Yes, his mediocre defense chips away at his overall play. I thought he'd walk more - he has only 28 walks after earning 80 in Japan last season - but you can't complain about a. 319/.381/.501 with just 42 strikeouts in 86 games, the sixth-lowest rate in the majors. I hope he keeps up the doubles-heavy approach rather than trying to hit more home runs, but he should remain an integral part of the lineup for the next four or five years. 312, but Duran has taken the right steps forward for more improvement. And no, I don't believe he will finish at. ![]() Statcast underestimates his slugging since it doesn't account for the hustle doubles. Is the improvement real? Statcast data suggests he's overperforming compared to his expected batted ball data (.269 average. Like many past left-handed Red Sox hitters, Duran has learned how to benefit from the Green Monster. That has led to an impressive rate of doubles - more than a fair share in which he has utilized his speed to stretch singles into two-baggers. Duran's average exit velocity is slightly up from last season (89.7 mph versus 89.3), but he has made minor improvements across the board: He has lowered his chase rate, improved his in-zone contact rate, cut down on strikeouts and increased his launch angle. Perhaps with a little more flowery language included. Duran credits some of his performance to spring training advice from Boston icon Dustin Pedroia, who basically told him to get mad at the plate, hold his hands higher and swing like he's going to crush the baseball. He's a blur on the bases and has provided the Red Sox with bolts of energy they've sort of lacked since trading Mookie Betts prior to the 2020 season. I certainly didn't expect anything from him the Red Sox didn't either - he started the season in the minors. Despite game-breaking speed in center field, he also suffered occasional defensive lapses where he would just lose the ball. 219/.269/.354 with 18 walks and 103 strikeouts in 335 plate appearances. In 91 games in 20, he was simply overmatched. Yoshida, who just turned 30, is the only member of that group who is older than 26.ĭuran has been one of the biggest surprises. Jarren Duran has had an exciting breakout season, Masataka Yoshida has been a hitting machine in his first year after starring in Japan, Rafael Devers signed to a long-term extension that runs through 2033, Triston Casas has shown signs that he'll be a productive first baseman and Brayan Bello has looked like the best homegrown starting pitcher the Red Sox have developed in over a decade. ![]() ![]() With the Red Sox hosting the New York Mets on Sunday Night Baseball (7 ET, ESPN), here is what we are learning about a franchise striving to become a consistent World Series threat but still figuring out how to get there.įor the first time since the 2018 championship team, the Red Sox have a reasonably young core emerging. The 2023 Red Sox are a hybrid of the past decade: surprising at times, frustrating at others, still in the playoff race - three games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the third American League wild card - but hardly a serious World Series contender. Since the infamous "chicken and beer" Boston Red Sox collapsed in September 2011 to miss the playoffs, the franchise has vacillated between success (World Series titles in 20) and disappointment (five last-place finishes since 2012). ![]() You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browserĬontenders or pretenders? What to make of the Boston Red Sox ![]()
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