SURPRISE, Ariz. — Ezequiel Duran is a Spring Coaching legend of types.
Over 54 video games in his profession with the Rangers (2022-23) and Yankees (‘20-21), he’s hit .370/.404/.685 with 5 homers, three triples, eight doubles and 26 RBIs.
When supervisor Bruce Bochy first bought a glimpse of Duran in Spring Coaching 2023, he was in awe of the uncooked energy of the then 23-year-old, who slashed .357/.390/.714 in 26 Cactus League video games.
Spring manufacturing doesn’t at all times translate to the common season, however that efficiency put Duran squarely within the entrance of Bochy’s thoughts. Duran has a extra solidified place on the staff coming into his second full yr within the large leagues, however that doesn’t imply the teaching employees doesn’t wish to see extra from him this spring.
“First, actually, I’m simply on the lookout for him to have the spring he had final yr,” Bochy mentioned. “That was actually spectacular and my first have a look at him. He might be taking part in in every single place. He is taking part in quick at the moment [Saturday], he’ll be taking part in third, simply primarily within the early go right here.”
It’s no secret that the Rangers’ infield is about for the foreseeable future with Corey Seager at quick, Marcus Semien at second, Josh Jung at third and Nathaniel Lowe at first. As such, Duran — a pure second baseman — has grow to be a utility participant. Final season, he logged appearances at shortstop (37 video games), left subject (34), third base (22), designated hitter (22), second base (9), first base (two) and proper subject (one).
Duran proved final season that he’s a useful a part of this membership, particularly when he greater than delivered as Seager’s substitute by slashing .308/.344/.526 in 70 video games earlier than the All-Star break. After Seager returned, nonetheless, he struggled as his taking part in time decreased, hitting .226/.296/.315 throughout 52 video games within the second half.
“Zeke, for a few month to a few weeks there, he bought off together with his timing,” Bochy mentioned. “I feel he was making an attempt to possibly generate an excessive amount of energy, possibly. However he bought again on monitor on the finish. We would like him to be the man who we had early within the season. He was a man that actually saved us when Corey went down. That was spectacular. He is a gifted hitter. He is a gifted participant. He does a whole lot of issues to assist the membership.”
Duran emphasised that his lack of constant taking part in time within the second half wasn’t an excuse for his lack of manufacturing when he was within the lineup.
“I approached each single day like I used to be taking part in,” Duran mentioned via interpreter Raul Cardenas. “If I used to be taking part in or not taking part in, I’d present up and do my job and attempt to work and attempt to get higher or not. [No consistent playing time] shouldn’t be an excuse. I used to be at all times able to play.”
There’s little doubt that Duran will be an on a regular basis participant. It simply so occurs that he’s at present on a staff with three All-Star infielders in Seager, Semien and Jung. Whereas Lowe hasn’t performed within the Midsummer Basic, he does personal a Silver Slugger Award and Gold Glove Award.
Meaning Duran is aware of that his function, barring somebody sustaining an damage, will in the end be as a chosen hitter. Duran struggled at instances as a DH final season, with a .266/.294/.481 line in 22 video games. For comparability’s sake, he slashed .291/.354/.478 in 37 video games at shortstop and .294/.333/.490 in 31 video games in left subject.
“It’s simply one thing the place you must keep on high of it,” Duran mentioned. “You are not on the sphere, so it is sort of exhausting to be constant. You need to at all times be listening to what goes on in the course of the recreation and to at all times be prepared to arrange your self for that subsequent at-bat on a regular basis.”
Duran mentioned he feels good figuring out the teaching employees has confidence in him at a number of positions and that the group, as an entire, values him. He understands that one of the best ways to make an affect on the staff is by being as versatile of a defender as doable and proceed swinging the bat properly.
He’s greater than up for the problem.
“I’m going to do no matter it takes to assist the staff win.”