One day after homering off former teammate Chris Sale, Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duranstayed red hot at the plate, blasting two more home runs Saturday in Boston’s 13-8 win over the Twins.
In the first inning, after a one-out triple by Trevor Story, Duran crushed a Taj Bradleyfastball for a two-run homer. Three innings later, he launched another two-run blast over the center-field wall.
Duran drove in four runs out of the No. 3 spot in the lineup Saturday and now has three homers over his last two games. His first blast traveled 401 feet into the bullpen with an exit velocity of 102.7 mph, while his second left the bat at 103.2 mph and carried 409 feet.
It’s difficult to put much stock into spring training results, but Duran’s early power surge is an encouraging sign for a Red Sox team searching for another legitimate threat in the middle of the order alongside Willson Contreras, Story, and Wilyer Abreu.
Alex Cora penciled Duran in as the designated hitter on Saturday, and he’s expected to see time in that role throughout the season, allowing Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Abreu to form an athletic outfield group for Boston.
Once the regular season begins, Duran is expected to hit third—behind leadoff man Anthony and Story—and one spot ahead of Contreras.
After setting a career high with 21 home runs in 2024, Duran hit just 16 in 2025. His slugging percentage dipped from .492 to .442, and he managed only three home runs against left-handers all season.
Make that back-to-back games with JD HRs! pic.twitter.com/lcIR8PpEst— Red Sox (@RedSox) February 28, 2026
Duran will soon depart Red Sox camp to join Team Mexico ahead of the World Baseball Classic, which begins late next week. In his first five Grapefruit League games, the 29-year-old is hitting .583 (7-for-12) with three home runs, five doubles, five RBIs, and a 2.167 OPS.
What’s behind Duran’s early success in Grapefruit League play?
Cora believes the speedy outfielder has shortened his swing, allowing him to get more direct to the baseball and stay on time at the plate.
“I know it’s early, but JD seems like a different hitter,” Cora said on February 22. “Hitting the ball really hard to the pull side. Getting to some pitches that last year probably he didn’t get (to). Expecting a lot of big things from him.”
“Be on time and hit the ball hard—that's what we want," Cora added. "It felt like last year he was caught between different batting techniques." Between the leg kick and this and that. And this year, in the offseason, the work was about that — just be on time."
“When he’s on time and swinging at pitches in the zone, he hits it hard. He’s done it the whole spring.”
For the 3rd time in 2 games... Jarren! pic.twitter.com/IFoTUW05RT— Red Sox (@RedSox) February 28, 2026
Duran isn’t your prototypical No. 3 hitter, but he started 25 games in that spot last season. In 112 plate appearances batting third, he hit .266/.384/.479 with four home runs, eight doubles, 15 RBIs, and an .863 OPS.
One notable detail from Duran’s power surge over the past two days is that both home runs came against left-handed pitching. He wasn’t particularly effective in those matchups last season, hitting just .211 with a .600 OPS and three home runs in 209 plate appearances against lefties.
Throughout the winter, there was plenty of online discourse surrounding what Duran’s role would look like this season. Trade rumors swirled, but Craig Breslowchose to keep both Duran and Abreu despite the outfield logjam.
If Duran can provide this level of power production, Breslow will have made the right call in holding onto the left-handed hitter.
Mayer's Impressive Spring Debut
Marcelo Mayer made his spring debut Friday — one week after Grapefruit League play began — and it was worth the wait.
Facing the Braves, the left-handed hitter crushed a fourth-inning home run off closer Raisel Iglesias. Mayer, who started at second base, worked a 3-1 count before hammering a sinker over the heart of the plate. The ball left his bat at 105.3 mph and traveled 381 feet at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida.
“The kid can hit,” Cora said after the game. “We know that. … It was a good day. A really good day.”
Mayer debuted after he and the team felt he was ready for regular game action following season-ending wrist surgery last year. Cora made headlines late last week by noting the 23-year-old isn’t guaranteed a starting job at either second or third base.
MARCELO MAYER HOMERS IN HIS FIRST GAME OF THE SPRING! pic.twitter.com/MUHa5ZRw8H— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) February 27, 2026
It still seems likely Mayer will start at one of those spots — at least against right-handed pitching — with newcomer Caleb Durbin handling the other. Thus far, Durbin has logged most of his reps at third, while Mayer has primarily worked at second.
This is a pivotal season for Mayer, who hasn’t played more than 91 games in a year since being drafted No. 4 overall by the Red Sox in 2021. His talent is undeniable, but each of the past three seasons he’s played has ended with a significant injury, prompting questions about durability. Mayer reported to camp heavier, weighing 220 pounds — the most he’s ever weighed — and the added strength should help him withstand the grind of a full season.
“I feel like if I didn’t do speed work and I gained that much weight, I’d feel sluggish,” Mayer said in Fort Myers. “But they told me, ‘You’re going to gain weight — let’s make sure it’s the right weight.’ Especially in the infield, you have to be quick.”
If Mayer proves he can handle left-handed pitching, it will give Cora more confidence to play him every day. As things stand, the Red Sox are planning to platoon him against southpaws, with Andruw Monasterio and Isiah Kiner-Falefasharing time.
Mayer hit just one home run in 20 spring training games last year and four total in 44 major league games (including two in the same game on June 11). Given his high defensive floor, Mayer can solidify his roster spot with continued offensive production over the next few weeks.
What's Next for Triston Casas?
Triston Casashas yet to appear in a spring training game—and that’s not entirely surprising. He’s just 10 months removed from suffering a season-ending injury on May 2, when he ruptured the patellar tendon in his left knee during a collision at first base.
According to MassLive’sChris Cotillo, Casas is making “good progress” in his recovery. Even so, it’s unlikely he’ll be in the mix for the Red Sox’ Opening Day roster in Cincinnati.
There’s a sense that Casas could get into games late in camp. If that happens, he would likely begin a rehab assignment with one of Boston’s affiliates shortly thereafter.
Casas has said he expects to open the season in the minors. With Contreras entrenched as the everyday first baseman and a crowded roster of outfielders needing at-bats—many of which will come at DH—it's difficult to see a clear path for Casas on the major league roster right now.
“My health right now is in a really good place compared to where it has been in the past,” Casas told MassLivethis week. “I really can’t thank the training staff enough and all my teammates for having my back the whole time.”
