Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox is already causing chaos on the base paths in the early going.
With five steals in the season’s first five games, the speedster set a new Sox franchise record. In the first three innings of Boston’s 9-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Monday night, three of those occurred.
“Being able to cause havoc for the guys behind me is always a good thing,” Duran said, per Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. “Every time I get on the bases, I’m looking to cause havoc, run in guys’ faces, make guys fumble the ball running down the line.”
If he stays healthy, Duran, 27, may be very important at the top of Boston’s hitting order. With a.295/.346/.828 season last year, the lefty had a breakthrough year. With 24 stolen bases, he led the squad and was only out twice in 102 games. However, a foot injury he sustained in August ended his season.
Gaining more stolen bases this year would be crucial for a squad that knows it might be lacking in offensive punch. In 2021 and 2022, the Red Sox combined for just 92 stolen bases. They scored 112 in 2023 alone, but not without a few noteworthy base-running errors to accompany it.
Still, Boston is capable of much more with its current lineup.
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