For a Red Sox prospect, there are few better times to make your MLB debut than against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts did it, and it will happen again on Thursday night.
Red Sox No. 3 prospect Jarren Duran will be getting called up prior to Thursday’s game in The Bronx, according to MLB.com.
While the Red Sox have yet to confirm the move, the 24-year-old will most likely replace utility player Marwin Gonzalez, who suffered a hamstring injury before the All-Star break.
Duran – who was drafted out of Long Beach State in the seventh round of the 2018 Draft – had a slash line of .270/.365/.561 with 15 home runs, 32 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 189 plate appearances this year at Triple-A Worcester. He has been on the rise this season as one of the game’s top prospects – he is now 25th on Baseball America’s list and 86th on MLB.com’s.
“We know he’s a good player and we know that at one point in his future, he’s going to contribute at this level,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said in early June. “There’s still a lot of things he still needs to get better at. But we love where he’s at right now. We love that he was able to play compete in a different level [for Team USA]. That’s part of the developing process. The must-win stuff is important for players. That’s why I’m big on winter ball, too. He did that in winter ball. He did it now with Team USA. He’s a guy we really like and we know he’s going to make an impact in the future.”
This series will be pivotal for both teams. The Red Sox lead the American League East by 1.5 games over the Rays. The 46-43 Yankees, who are 0-6 against the Red Sox this season, are eight games back. Thursday night’s game between the rivals will be the only one played in the MLB as the season’s second half begins.
And Duran will not be the only top prospect joining the Red Sox. No. 6 prospect Tanner Houck, a 25-year-old pitcher, is also reportedly getting called up, according to Dan Roche of WBZ-TV.
Boston has compiled an impressive 55-36 record without ace Chris Sale, but he too will be joining the Red Sox soon after recovering from Tommy John surgery. He made his first rehab assignment Thursday afternoon, tossing three scoreless innings, while allowing four hits and striking out five.
