Ezequiel Alberto Durán (born May 22, 1999) is a Dominican professional baseball infielder and outfielder for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.

Ezequiel Durán
Texas Rangers – No. 20
Infielder / Outfielder
Born: (1999-05-22) May 22, 1999 (age 24)
San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 4, 2022, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.262
Home runs19
Runs batted in71
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Career edit

New York Yankees edit

Durán signed with the New York Yankees as an international free agent on July 2, 2017, for a $10,000 signing bonus.[1] He made his professional debut in 2017 for the DSL Yankees of the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League, hitting .393/.415/.754/1.169 with 3 home runs and 11 RBI over 15 games.[2] Durán played for the Pulaski Yankees of the Rookie-level Appalachian League in 2018, hitting .201/.251/.311/.562 with 4 home runs and 20 RBI.[3] He spent the 2019 season with the Staten Island Yankees of the Class A Short Season New York-Penn League, hitting .256/.329/.496/.824 with 13 home runs, 37 RBI, and 11 stolen bases.[3] Durán did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Durán opened the 2021 season with the Hudson Valley Renegades of the High-A East league, hitting .290/.374/.533/.907 with 12 home runs, 48 RBI, and 12 stolen bases over 67 games for them.[4][5]

Texas Rangers edit

On July 29, 2021, Durán along with Josh Smith, Glenn Otto, and Trevor Hauver were traded to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Joey Gallo and Joely Rodríguez.[6] He was assigned to the Hickory Crawdads of the High-A East following the trade, and finished the season posting a .229/.287/.408/.695 slash line with 7 home runs and 31 RBI.[7] Durán played in the Arizona Fall League for the Surprise Saguaros following the 2021 season, hitting .278/.333/.611/.944 with 3 home runs and 12 RBI.[8][9] Durán was named to the Fall League All-Star team.[10]

On November 19, 2021, Texas selected Durán to the 40–man roster.[11][12] He split the 2022 minor league season between the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Texas League and the Round Rock Express of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, hitting a combined .302/.344/.555/.899 with 16 home runs, 33 doubles, 57 RBI, and 14 stolen bases over 78 games.[13]

On June 4, Durán was promoted to the major leagues for the first time and made his major league debut that day versus the Seattle Mariners.[14] He recorded his first career hit, an infield single, and first career home run on June 5.[15][16] Over 58 games for Texas in 2022, Durán hit .236/.277/.365/.643 with 5 home runs, 10 doubles, 4 stolen bases, and 25 RBI.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Law, Keith. "Yankees 2021 prospect rankings: Keith Law on New York's top 20". The Athletic. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  2. ^ "Ezequiel Duran Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Kelly, Dan (January 24, 2020). "The Yankees have two talented prospects in Anthony Volpe and Ezequiel Duran". Pinstripe Alley. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  4. ^ "Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Headed to Texas". CBSSports.com. July 29, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  5. ^ "Tuesday's top prospect performers". MLB.com. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  6. ^ Hoch, Brian (July 29, 2021). "Yankees get Gallo in 6-player deal". MLB.com. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  7. ^ Sheehan, Trujillo, Stephanie, Nick (September 11, 2021). "Saturday's top prospect performers". MLB.com. Retrieved October 4, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo, and Sam Dykstra (October 6, 2021). "Here are the Arizona Fall League rosters". MLB.com. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  9. ^ Boor, William (October 25, 2021). "Duran flaunts power, speed in 3-hit game". MLB.com. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  10. ^ Newberg, Jamey (November 17, 2021). "What Does the AFL Mean for the Rangers? Two Skyrocketing Prospects". D Magazine. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  11. ^ Landry, Kennedi (November 19, 2021). "Texas protects 3 prospects from Rule 5 Draft". MLB.com. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  12. ^ Morris, Adam J. (November 19, 2021). "Rangers add 3 to 40 man roster, outright 2". Lone Star Ball (SB Nation). Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  13. ^ Maun, Tyler (May 15, 2022). "Duran's scorching May continues for RoughRiders". MLB.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  14. ^ The, AP (June 4, 2022). "Rangers' Duran makes MLB debut; Smith to IL". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  15. ^ Hoyt, Joseph (June 6, 2022). "Ezequiel Durán's fearless mentality showed in first MLB homer that gave Rangers late lead". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  16. ^ Landry, Kennedi (June 5, 2022). "In 2nd game, Duran delivers 1st hit, 1st HR". MLB.com. Retrieved June 15, 2022.

External links edit