{"id":83787,"date":"2024-08-22T15:49:14","date_gmt":"2024-08-22T19:49:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=83787"},"modified":"2024-08-22T16:41:42","modified_gmt":"2024-08-22T20:41:42","slug":"jarren-duran-red-sox-mvp-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/08\/22\/jarren-duran-red-sox-mvp-race\/","title":{"rendered":"Sneaky MVP Candidate Flying Under the Radar"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once the All-Star Break concludes, the American League and National League MVP conversations usually heat up. Teams begin to pull away in their respective divisions or postseason races, players go on tears, and voters see who has what it takes. While both awards seem close to wrapped up, with superstars <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/j\/judgeaa01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Aaron Judge<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/o\/ohtansh01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Shohei Ohtani<\/a> pulling away, it\u2019s still important to look at those lurking in the shadows. There\u2019s one player who no one is talking about that should be in that conversation. The Boston Red Sox are pushing to make the playoffs for the first time since 2021. And sneaky MVP candidate <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/d\/duranja01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jarren Duran<\/a> is flying under the radar.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Jarren Duran Quietly Making an MVP Case<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b>The Numbers<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the surface, Duran has strong counting statistics. The outfielder is slashing .293\/.353\/.514 this season, good for a career-best .867 OPS. Duran has 17 home runs, an MLB-best 13 triples, and tops the American League with 39 doubles. His quickness causes havoc on the basepaths, with the 27-year-old stealing 32 bases already and tallying 88 runs (8th in MLB). Duran also has been productive with runners in scoring position, ranking 15th in baseball with a .293 average with RISP and second on the Red Sox with 64 RBI. His durability is also one of the best in MLB. Duran has missed just two games due to <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/08\/12\/jarren-duran-suspended-two-games\/\" target=\"_self\">suspension<\/a> and leads the league in plate appearances and at-bats.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Jarren Duran<\/p>\n<p>There are only 4 players, since 1900, in an ENTIRE season, with<\/p>\n<p>2B \u2265 38<br \/>\n3B \u2265 13<br \/>\nHR \u2265 17<br \/>\nSB \u2265 31<br \/>\nOPS \u2265 .850<\/p>\n<p>Jarren is the only one to do it in his team\u2019s first 125 games<\/p>\n<p>dude is unbelievable <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/bLpZeEXmZ8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/bLpZeEXmZ8<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Boston Sports Info (@bostonsportsinf) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/bostonsportsinf\/status\/1826085571493552589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 21, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3><strong>Advanced Statistics<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those numbers all paint the picture of a strong and consistent hitter. But Duran is even more than what it seems. Looking at advanced stats tells you that he legitimately has been one of the best players in all of baseball this campaign. That\u2019s true for both the offensive and defensive sides of the game. Duran currently <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/leagues\/MLB-leaders.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ranks fifth<\/a> in MLB in Wins Above Replacement (WAR). His 7.5 mark trails only <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/sotoju01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Juan Soto<\/a> (NYY), <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/h\/hendegu01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gunnar Henderson<\/a>, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/w\/wittbo02.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bobby Witt Jr.<\/a> (KCR), and Judge. Duran sits above Ohtani, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/l\/lindofr01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Francisco Lindor<\/a> (NYM), <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/g\/guerrvl02.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Vladimir Guerrero Jr.<\/a>, and his teammate <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/d\/deverra01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rafael Devers<\/a>. That\u2019s extremely impressive for someone who, before 2024, had racked up just 1.3 total WAR in nearly 200 contests.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That number isn\u2019t carried by one part of Duran\u2019s game. He ranks sixth in offensive WAR and fifth in the defensive category. Duran has been a constant presence in Boston\u2019s outfield unit, placing third in baseball with nine outfield assists. At this point, I think you can get the moral of the story. There aren\u2019t many stats that make Duran look poor. The more you look into his 2024 campaign, the more impressive he becomes. After being somewhat of an unknown, Duran now has a solidified role and playing style. Despite many not talking about his performances or looking his way, the California native\u2019s numbers speak for themselves. Like it or not, Duran is one of the best players in baseball.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"eu\">JARREN DURAN <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ddX4oYU2Bc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/ddX4oYU2Bc<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Red Sox (@RedSox) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RedSox\/status\/1825006875995156628?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 18, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"eu\">\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3><b>The Performances<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best players in baseball show up when it matters. They set the tone and lead their team constantly. Duran has done both of those things this year, specifically in the last 30 games. He\u2019s batting .341 with an OPS above 1.040 during the stretch. His average has been coupled with seven homers, 23 RBI, and 10 bases. But it\u2019s not just about his production. It\u2019s about <\/span><em>how<\/em> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">he produces.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On Tuesday, the Red Sox were in dire need of a win against the Houston Astros. Duran took matters into his own hands, smacking the first pitch of the game for a double to right field. He got to third on a wild pitch and then quickly scored. In the eighth inning, the score was tied at five apiece. Duran again took centerstage and smoked a homer to left center. Boston won 6-5 thanks to the outfielder\u2019s four hits, three runs, two RBI, one home run, and one walk. The next day, Duran did it again with a double to kick things off. The Red Sox won 4-1, got to eight games over .500, and kept their playoff hopes alive.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">It\u2019s 1-0 because of Jarren Duran\u2019s speed. Turned a single into a double, which most guys don\u2019t have the speed to do, and scored on a knock that most guys don\u2019t score on. Guys an absolute weapon.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Jared_Carrabis\/status\/1826322629600423952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 21, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p>&nbsp;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Duran has hits in all but four of his August contests. In the Houston series, he totalled 14 bases in three matchups. After beginning the season with struggles, batting .253 on May 31, it\u2019s been a different story since. Duran batted .364 in June, .306 in July, and has a current .301 in August. Boston has a massive three-game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks starting on Friday. Any sort of Duran production similar to his recent performances would be massive. That\u2019s especially true when three of the Red Sox\u2019s next four series\u2019 are against the Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers, and Chicago White Sox. Combined, those teams are 152-230.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>The Last Word for Jarren Duran<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Duran is not going to win the AL MVP award this season. Judge, who is on pace to eclipse 60 homers yet again, will most certainly claim that prize. But that shouldn\u2019t mean that we can\u2019t highlight those just behind him. Duran is right there in that pack. If baseball had a Most Improved Award, similar to the one in the NBA, Duran would probably be the AL leader. If Judge wasn\u2019t playing out of his mind, and at a historic pace, then the Boston player would have a fighting chance. If you turn on ESPN or MLB Network, the usuals will be highlighted. Duran, currently, is not one of those usuals that garner national attention. That should change very soon.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Main Photo Credit: \u00a9 Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Once the All-Star Break concludes, the American League and National League MVP conversations usually heat up. Teams begin to pull away in their respective divisions or postseason races, players go on tears, and voters see who has what it takes. While both awards seem close to wrapped up, with superstars Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5152,"featured_media":83803,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,1071],"tags":[501,2583,380,2688,3029,1535,2178,640],"class_list":["post-83787","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-redsox","category-mlb","tag-aaron-judge","tag-bobby-witt-jr","tag-francisco-lindor","tag-gunnar-henderson","tag-jarren-duran","tag-rafael-devers","tag-shohei-ohtani","tag-vladimir-guerrero-jr"],"modified_by":"Matt Graves","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83787","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5152"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83787"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83787\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83803"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83787"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=83787"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=83787"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}