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Physical Description: Tall,
strong frame. Quick-twitch athlete. Athleticism stands out on
the field. Has added significant strength in his upper body
since he joined the system, and specifically was noticeably
stronger when he reported to the Alternate Training Site in
2020. Strength gains carried over into the 2021 season.
Hit: Starts upright and slightly open with his
hands down by his belt. Tweaked his setup in 2020, starting with
his hands lower down at his chest before bringing them back up
in his load, a change made in an attempt to lift the ball more.
Simple swing mechanics. Direct swing. Very quick hands.
Aggressive and will attack early in the count, but can recognize
spin and will take a walk. Will take what the pitcher gives him.
Has some swing-and-miss and will expand the zone at times.
Approach has improved, but will require some refinement against
major league pitching. In college had used a low, wide stance
before coming up and back, but in pro ball tapped into
unexpected offensive potential when he changed his initial setup
to start more upright. Has shown the ability to make adjustments
to improve and to address holes in his swing; 2020 swing change
was done on his own, not at the suggestion of the organization.
Potential average hit tool.
Power:
Plus raw power after 2020 swing adjustments. Increased strength
and added loft in swing allow him the drive the ball to all
fields, but especially to the pull side. Showed improved power
at 2020 alternate training site, and quickly showed that his
swing changes work in real games in 2021, significantly changing
his in-game power projection. Prior to 2020 change, had
below-average raw power with a swing not geared for
over-the-fence power. Speed also leads to more doubles and
triples on hard-hit line drives, inflating his power numbers
somewhat. Above-average power potential.
Run:
True plus-plus speed. Potential difference-maker on the bases.
Needs to refine base-stealing instincts, but has the type of
speed that puts immense pressure on the defense. Speed has
allowed him to post high batting averages on balls in play
during his minor league career.
Field:
Potential average defender. Has the speed and athleticism teams
covet for center field, but is still raw and needs to continue
developing in the outfield after moving from second base during
his pro debut. Not clear that he will stick in center field, and
may be a better fit in left given fringe-average arm and
uniquely spacious right field at Fenway Park. Has improved what
was initially a slow first step in the outfield, struggling with
initial reads, but still is not a natural outfielder. Often able
to make up for slow reads and inefficient routes with his speed.
First moved to right field, where the line to the plate was
similar to that at second base, before converting full-time in
2019 to center field, where his speed could allow him to develop
tremendous range. At second base, showed soft hands and fluid
actions, though athleticism was somewhat wasted. |
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Arm: Fringe-average arm strength. Passable in
the outfield, but throws lack carry.
Career
Notes: Led his high school team to a state title his
sophomore year. Put together a strong season for Wareham in the
2017 Cape Cod Summer League. Made it to the Super Regionals with
Long Beach State in 2017. Has performed at a much higher level
as a pro than even the organization was expecting, due in large
part to abandoning much of what he was taught in college and
switching to a more natural swing. Participated in the Fall
Instructional League in 2018. Flirted with hitting .400 for much
of his time in Salem in 2019, but a slight slump in the week or
so before his promotion to Portland brought his average below
that mark. Played at the Alternate Training Site in 2020, where
he showed significant improvements in his power. Impressed at
the plate as a non-roster invitee to Spring Training in 2021,
but showed that he still had work to do on defense. Opened 2021
at the Alternate Training Site. Played for Team USA in the 2021
Americas Olympic Qualifier, and would have been part of U.S.
Olympic team if not for Red Sox request to pull him off of the
roster if they wanted to call him up. Did, in fact, receive his
first MLB call-up coming out of the 2021 All-Star Break.
Summation: Potential average regular starting
outfielder. Ceiling of an impact, everyday center fielder.
Ability to reach ceiling is dependent on keeping the
swing-and-miss in his game manageable and continuing to improve
defensively. Swing changes that allowed him to tap into his raw
power have completely changed his outlook. Now looks like a
potential above-average offensive player with plus-plus speed
who is average-ish in the outfield and able to get by because of
his speed and athleticism while he continues to refine his reads
and routes. Is still continuing to develop in center field, but
likely to develop into at least an average defender there and
has the raw tools to become an above-average defender. With his
speed, has the potential to put a lot of pressure on the defense
and inflate his average with infield singles and slugging by
taking extra bases. Could also steal 25-plus bases if he
improves his baserunning instincts.
Links
State of the System:
Outfielders (5.13.20)
Video from Pawtucket (8.18.2020)
Video from Pawtucket (8.20.2020)
Video from Pawtucket (9.1.2020)
Scouting Scratch (5.3.2021)
Scouting Report Update: Jarren Duran gets The Call (7.14.2021)
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