One of the Red Sox’s top prospects will be joining the team starting on Friday. According to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe, the team is calling up outfielder Jarren Duran from Triple-A Worchester. Duran is expected to be with the team Friday night.
Duran’s call up comes as starting center fielder Kiké Hernandez is dealing with COVID-like symptoms. Speier reports that although Hernandez has not tested positive to this point, he will “remain away from the team” until the symptoms subside. The Red Sox dealt with a string of COVID cases last month that included manager Alex Cora and starting catcher Christian Vazquez.
SoxProspects.com currently has Duran listed as the fifth-best prospect in the system, and the best with MLB experience. After being called up in July last season, Duran his .215 in 33 games with two home runs and 10 RBIs.
Duran has spent the entire 2022 season to this point with Worcester, where he’s been on a tear. In 15 games he’s slashing .397/.478/.683. He has eight extra base hits including two home runs in 58 at-bats. Perhaps most importantly, he seems to have cut down on the strikeout issues that hurt him last season – he’s struck out just 13 times while drawing nine walks.
There’s been no corresponding move announced by the Red Sox yet. They’ll have to do so by tonight, when they host the Chicago White Sox in the first game of a three-game series at Fenway Park.
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