Red Sox Coach Predicts Perennial ‘MVP Candidate’ In Jarren Duran

BOSTON — Jarren Duran put together a remarkable season for the Red Sox to show his impact on the game is no fluke.

Duran put together a full campaign with his athletic dominance on full display. He took home All-Star Game MVP honors and spearheaded the tempo of Boston’s offense all season long. He improved as a defender in the outfield and showed his flashes from 2023 are indeed here to stay.

Red Sox third base coach and outfield coordinator Kyle Hudson played a significant role in squeezing every ounce of production out of Duran. The challenge continues into 2025 to sustain those game-changing abilities into dependability for Boston.

“This guy is one of the best players in the big leagues in all facets of the game,” Hudson told NESN.com during “Fenway Fest” Saturday. “He’s very hard on himself, which makes him kind of who he is. He can also be too hard on himself sometimes.”

Hudson is a consistent motivator in Duran’s ear, though he admits it’s always easier to remind the Red Sox outfielder of that when he thrives on the field as he did in 2024.

“I think part of our job as coaches, and me specifically who works with him every day on the defensive side and the baserunning side,” Hudson said. “My job is to instill confidence and let him know, ‘Dude, you’re the MVP candidate.’ “What he showed in that ability, in my opinion, it’s not just a flash in the pan in one year. We’ve talked about it a lot, ‘You’ve got to go out and do it again and again and again.’

Duran finished eighth in American League MVP voting, though Hudson believes the Red Sox star is only scratching the surface of the recognition his personality and production deserve.

“I don’t think he’s getting the recognition he deserves from the season that he had,” Hudson added. “He did it for one year. He does it for another year, he’s going to start to gain some traction and gain some speed. People are going to start recognizing it and who he is. If you watch that kid and watch him play, that’s the guy. I want that guy. I want him on my team.”

The Red Sox have a unique talent and therefore have a greater responsibility to secure his future in Boston.