According to Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald, Duran remained humble and focused on his job in the Red Sox’s upcoming season after receiving Cora’s vote of confidence.
“That’s great to hear, but I still can’t be satisfied,” Duran responded, according to Starr. “I’ll still come out here like I don’t have a job…” That’s just not how I’m wired or raised to take things for granted.
Duran consistently converted singles into doubles in the leadoff spot before having season-ending toe surgery last August.
“Obviously, we need him healthy out there every day,” Cora told reporters at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, according to footage provided by the team. “If he’s healthy, that’s my guy.”
Duran is coming off a season in which he hit.295/.346/.482 with 98 hits, 34 doubles, eight home runs, and 24 stolen bases before his injury. According to Tyler Milliken of 98.5 The Sports Hub, he hit.319/.356/.567 as a leadoff batter last year, with five home runs, 16 doubles, and two triples.
The fast outfielder’s attitude toward a guaranteed roster berth appears to have not changed since last fall.
“You can’t go into spring thinking you’ve got a spot. “That’s when you get satisfied,” Durran told Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic in September. “You have to go in with the mindset of, ‘I have to earn my spot.'” That’s just my mindset. I have to earn my creed here. Just because I had one wonderful year is insignificant.”
If he stays healthy, Duran is expected to hit.272 with 52 extra-base hits in 2024, according to Rotowire.
