Where did Jarren Duran play in college Baseball?
Where did Jarren Duran play in college Baseball?
By Edcel Panganiban August 16, 2024 07:33
Throughout his brief professional career as an outfielder for the Major League Baseball (MLB) team Boston Red Sox, Jarren Duran quickly became another star on track to make it big in baseball. But before reaching the bigs, Duran prepared for his baseball journey during an impressive college career at California State University Long Beach (CSULB). This piece will expand upon Duran's college baseball experience, what he accomplished during his time at Long Beach, the impact that going to a program like CSULB had on him, and how it readied itself for life in pro ball.
Jarren Duran College Baseball Career Background
2016 Season: Duran made an impact as a freshman on the team. In 54 games, he went. He posted a.267 batting average while accumulating 36 hits, including ten doubles and two home runs. The speed was real, however, as he swiped 12 bags.
2017 Season: Duran collected Second Team All-Big West honors in his second collegiate year. He led the team with a. The righty entered the game with a .305 batting average, 67 hits, 20 for extra bases, and 49 runs scored. His 17 stolen bases were among the conference leaders, demonstrating his speed and base-running acumen.
2018 Season: As a junior, Duran once again was doing it all, leading the Big West Conference in stolen bases with 17 and his team in hits (67) and runs scored (42). He ended up hitting. He entered the day with a .303 batting average, only enhancing his reputation as an all-around player.
Long Beach College Baseball Program
The Long Beach State Dirtbags is the baseball program that represents California State University, Long Beach. It is also a pretty competitive program and has turned out many MLB players throughout its history. Under the direction of head coach Eric Valenzuela, Long Beach State has always been a Big West Conference powerhouse, as it has relied on strong pitching and stout defense. The program's focus on player development and competition allowed Duran to learn within a space mature enough for improvement.
Notable Teammates and Coaches
During his days at CSULB, Duran worked with several high-level teammates who had professional baseball careers. The team had such a familial and competitive atmosphere that everyone had an insatiable desire to work harder than each other. Coaches at CSULB, especially Valenzuela, played a huge part in turning Duran into the talent he is today.
Prep for Pro Ball
Skills and Experience Gained
His college baseball experience played a big role in readying Duran for professional baseball. At CSULB, he worked on gaining the following three skills:
Refining of his Hitting: He adapted to different types of pitches and increased walk rates. His ability to hit flat-out was already well-established throughout his college days.
Honing his Speed: His speed was as much an asset on the base paths as anywhere else, and that continued in his professional career, where he developed into a speedy baserunner who established a reputation for stealing bases.
Defensive Versatility: After playing mostly 2B in college, he struggled with defense at second. He conquered them for a while, showcasing his ability to adapt defensively, which is very important coming forward into MLB.
Notable Achievements in MLB
After breaking into the majors on July 17, 2021, Duran added to a college résumé already full of notable experience. He has accomplished several major milestones through the 2024 season, including:
Batting average: Duran enters short of 400 games (395) over five minor league seasons with a career batting average of. 272. It was from a .290 average during the season of 2024, according to his then ranking as one of the best hitters in the American League.
Home Runs and RBIs: He has 27 home runs and 125 RBI.
Stolen Bases: His blazing speed has allowed him to be very profitable at the professional level, thanks largely to his 62 career stolen bases.
Current Progress & Success
The lessons from college have reverberated to this day in Duran's professional work. The discipline, work ethic, and skills he honed at CSULB serve him well as he navigates through his MLB battles. That versatility, which he honed during his time in college, eventually allowed him flexibility as an outfield or surprise pinch-hitter at the Minor League level.
If one thing is for certain, it's that when Cal State Long Beach baseball has success at the college level, a successful professional career will follow. Those accomplishments at CSULB have not only served him well in the pro ranks, but they have put the right tools and mindset in place to help Duran continue thriving while playing Major League Baseball. But as Duran endears himself to a bigger audience, his college baseball career is still part of the journey that has shaped who he plays now.
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