Boston Red Sox Center Fielder Jarren Duran won the Ted Williams All-Star Game MVP last night at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Duran hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning that helped the American League win 5-3. The game was all knotted up at three before Duran provided the American League offense with the jolt they needed to emerge victorious. The American League bullpen proceeded to toss four scoreless innings and secure the victory. The American League has won the game in 10 of the last 11 installments. The 2020 game was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Duran grounded out in his second plate appearance in the bottom of the eighth inning. He is hitting .284 this season with ten home runs and 41 RBI. He is third in the league in doubles and is leading all of Major League Baseball in triples with 10. Will Duran be able to carry this momentum into the second half of the regular season?
Jarren Duran Career Summary
The Ted Williams #AllStarGame MVP award goes to Jarren Duran! pic.twitter.com/pWNxCmsHGl
— MLB (@MLB) July 17, 2024
This season for Duran has been by far the best of his career. He was named to his first all-star game this season. He was named to the initial roster as a reserve for the American League team. Duran made his debut with the Boston Red Sox in 2021 and is making his imprint on the league this season. He suffered a season-ending toe injury in August of 2023. He was limited to 102 games last season. Duran is a career .268 hitter with 23 home runs and 108 RBI.
Boston Red Sox Season Summary
Boston(53-42) had a stellar first half of the 2024 regular season. They are in third place in the American League East and occupy the third and final American League Wild Card spot. The Red Sox have been powered by a strong offense this year. They are fourth in batting average, eighth in home runs, and 12th in runs scored. Their offense is paced by Third Baseman Rafael Devers and Duran. Devers is putting together another MVP-caliber campaign as he is top 20 in the league batting average, home runs, RBI, and OPS.
Devers declined to participate in the “Midsummer Classic” last night as the Boston Red Sox star opted to rest a shoulder injury he has been dealing with this season. Boston’s pitching staff has also been strong in 2024. They are fifth in ERA, 14th in strikeouts, and 11th in opposing batting average. Starting Pitcher Brayan Bello is fifth in the league in 10 wins and Tanner Houck is fifth in the league in ERA and 11th in WHIP. Closer Kenley Jansen is also eighth in the league with 19 saves. The team is also 11th in the league in bullpen ERA.
Red Sox Upcoming Schedule
The Boston Red Sox begin the second of their regular season with a six-game road trip against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies. Boston is eyeing their second trip to the MLB Playoffs in six seasons. Boston has themselves in a good position heading into the second half of the season. Both their hitting and pitching have been great this season.
Duran will need to continue playing well this season for the Boston Red Sox to have a great second half of the regular season and reach its fullest potential. The Boston Red Sox have the requisite talent to make a deep run in the 2024 MLB Playoffs.
