Duran named Uncle Ray's CL Player of the Month

Former Salem star boasts MiLB's highest batting average

(Photo courtesy of John Wacher/Salem Red Sox)

June 5, 2019

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (June 5, 2019) - One of the most productive hitters in Minor League Baseball has collected his first professional Player of the Month award. Thanks to a .388 average last month, former Salem outfielder Jarren Duran is the Uncle Ray's Carolina League Player of the Month for May,

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (June 5, 2019) - One of the most productive hitters in Minor League Baseball has collected his first professional Player of the Month award. Thanks to a .388 average last month, former Salem outfielder Jarren Duran is the Uncle Ray's Carolina League Player of the Month for May, the Minor League Baseball office announced on Wednesday.
Not only did Duran pace the Carolina League in batting average last month, but his 38 hits and 1.021 OPS led the way as well. Duran, the ninth-best prospect in the Red Sox system per MLB Pipeline, was also tied for first with 23 runs, second with 55 total bases and tied for fifth with eight doubles.

Duran's production in May continued a torrid start to the 2019 season for the former seventh-round pick out of Long Beach State. Entering Wednesday's action, Duran leads all qualified players within full-season Minor League Baseball with a .386 batting average.
The Red Sox rewarded Duran for his outstanding stint at the High-A level by promoting him to Double-A Portland on Monday. He made his debut for the Sea Dogs on Tuesday and went 1-for-3 with a run.
Duran is the first Salem player to earn the CL's Player of the Month honor since Michael Chavis accomplished the feat in May of 2017. Both of the league's 2019 winners--Duran and Winston-Salem's Luis Robert--earned promotions to Double-A before the award announcement.