Jarren Duran was a star for Mexico within the World Baseball Classic

NORTH PORT, Fla. — Mexico didn’t make it by means of to the quarterfinals, however Jarren Duran returned from the World Baseball Classic on Saturday with an gear bag loaded with souvenirs and a large smile.

The Red Sox outfielder was the most effective hitters within the event, going 5 for 15 with three residence runs, 5 RBIs, and two stolen bases in 4 video games. After being a bench participant in 2023, Duran was a star for El Tri this time.

“The competition is always gonna be there, so that was always fun. But I think just getting to play with guys that you’re not going to play with during the season, the most fun part is getting to know those guys and hanging out with them and talking with them,” Duran stated.

Duran was struck by how loud the followers have been at Daikin Park in Houston and the extraordinary environment through the video games.

“It was insane,” he stated.

Duran was 7 of 12 with three homers and two doubles and 5 RBIs in 5 Grapefruit League video games earlier than he left. Overall, that’s eight extra-base hits in 27 at-bats, 5 of them residence runs.

Has there been any explicit adjustment that he’s made?

“Honestly, just not caring. Like, I don’t care,” Duran stated. “That’s my whole mentality. I get [a] hit, sick. I get out, sick. I just don’t care. That’s my whole thing, not make everything bigger that needs to be, not make anything higher or lower that needs to be. Just staying [with] an even playing field.”

Duran stated he didn’t know if this was one thing new for him or if he would proceed to strategy the sport that method.

“I guess we’ll see,” he stated.

Sox supervisor Alex Cora stated Duran could be within the lineup in opposition to the Twins on Sunday afternoon at JetBlue Park.

That Romy Gonzalez walked into the clubhouse at Fenway South with out his left shoulder in a sling appeared like a great signal, and certainly it was.

The utility participant is already feeling higher after having surgical procedure on his left shoulder on Thursday in Alabama.

“Definitely the best-case scenario. Just a little clean-up procedure,” stated Gonzalez, who appeared in 96 video games final season and had an .826 OPS.

Gonzalez went on the 60-day injured checklist the identical day as his surgical procedure. He’s hopeful of having the ability to return in two or three months.

“I was preparing for the worst considering how I was feeling,” Gonzalez stated. “I didn’t feel too great. So being able to come out of this with a minimal procedure is just huge.”

Gonzalez had surgical procedure on his proper shoulder in June of 2023 to restore a torn labrum and missed the rest of the season.

With Gonzalez out, Cora stated the ultimate spot on the roster would probably come right down to Nate Eaton, Andruw Monasterio, and Nick Sogard. He wouldn’t say Marcelo Mayer is on the roster however did acknowledge, “Marcelo is doing an outstanding job. We cannot hide that from what we’ve seen.”

Aroldis Chapman and Justin Slaten pitched in a minor league recreation at Fenway South in lieu of dealing with the Braves. They will pitch once more on Sunday within the Grapefruit League recreation in opposition to the Twins however just for a batter or two.

Chapman struck out the primary batter he confronted then walked the second on 4 pitches earlier than choosing him off. The third batter struck out on three pitches. He threw 14 pitches, eight for strikes.

Slaten obtained a groundout and two strikeouts. He additionally threw 14 pitches, eight for strikes.

Connor Wong and Triston Casas took at-bats within the recreation.

Second baseman Henry Godbout homered and drove in two runs because the Sox beat the Twins, 5-3, within the Futures At Fenway South recreation. Godbout was a second-round choose final July out of the University of Virginia. Well-regarded shortstop prospect Franklin Arias additionally drove in two runs for the Sox. Blake Wehunt allowed one run over three innings … Tsung-Che Cheng, who was away taking part in for Taiwan within the WBC, was within the lineup in opposition to the Braves for Saturday’s 10-1 loss and drew two walks.

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Peter Abraham could be reached at peter.abraham@globe.com. Follow him on Bluesky at peteabeglobe.bsky.social‬.