Duran has slashed .352/.375/.704 with three home runs and 15 RBI over 24 spring games.
Duran, who belted his third Cactus League home run Saturday, is doing everything he can to make the Opening Day roster. In addition to the work at the plate, the 23-year-old has appeared at second base, shortstop, third base and the outfield. A utility spot is up for grabs, and it appears Duran and Josh Smith (thumb) are the primary contenders. Smith's injury is recent -- he was scratched from Saturday's game -- but he offers better defense in the outfield, while Duran may need more reps there. The Rangers will decide whether Duran's bat is more valuable than Smith's defense.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Duran was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.
Duran appeared to be in line for a reduced role with the Rangers since Josh Jung is expected to make his major-league debut Friday. However, Duran will ultimately be sent to the minors after Josh Smith was recalled from Round Rock following a strong performance at Triple-A over the last two and a half weeks. Duran has hit .236 with five homers, 25 runs, 25 RBI and four stolen bases over 58 big-league games this season but should see regular at-bats in the minors.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Role could be reduced
Rotowire
Duran could experience a reduction in playing time when the Rangers call up prospect Josh Jung, who will make his debut Friday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Duran made his MLB debut June 4 and played mostly at third base since, but that position is expected to be Jung's in preparation for what should be full-time job in 2023. Duran can also play second base but is blocked by Marcus Semien; he has experience in the outfield, but Bubba Thompson has emerged as a potential everyday player in left field while Leody Taveras is making a home in center. Duran may revert to a super-utility role.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Delivers two in win
Rotowire
Duran went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI in Tuesday's 4-3 win over Houston.
Duran snapped a six-game streak without an RBI when he doubled home a pair of runs in the second inning. The rookie infielder has 25 RBI over 57 games.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Not in Thursday's lineup
Rotowire
Duran is out of the lineup for Thursday's game at Boston.
Duran started the past 10 games and will receive a day off after he posted a .696 OPS during that span. Charlie Culberson will take over at the hot corner and bat eighth Thursday.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Goes yard in loss
Rotowire
Duran went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Astros.
The Rangers' youth movement provided all the offense for Texas, as Duran and Bubba Thompson each swatted solo shots. The blast was Duran's fifth, including his second in the last four games. The team is committed to him as its primary third baseman for the rest of the season, but 2023 may be a different story. Josh Jung, the organization's top prospect, is at Triple-A Round Rock and knocking on the MLB door.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Hits three-run homer
Rotowire
Duran went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Friday's victory over Detroit.
Duran knocked in Leody Taveras and Mark Mathias on a second-inning shot to put Texas up 4-0. It was his fourth home run of the year and his second this month. Duran has essentially taken over third base, with a .251 batting average since his call-up in June and a .264 average this month.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Sitting against righty
Rotowire
Duran is not in Friday's lineup against the Twins.
He will sit for the second time in the last three games. Josh Smith, who is hitting eighth against righty Dylan Bundy, may have a loose hold on the strong side of a platoon at third base.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Retreats to bench
Rotowire
Duran isn't starting Wednesday against Oakland.
Duran snapped an eight-game hitting streak Tuesday against the Athletics by going 0-for-3 with a walk, and he'll head to the bench for the second time in the last three matchups a day later. Josh Smith is starting at the hot corner and batting eighth.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Hits third homer
Rotowire
Duran went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and an RBI fielder's choice in an 8-0 win over the White Sox on Saturday.
Duran showed why scouts admire the raw power in his bat by taking a hanging slider from Michael Kopech to the opposite field for his third home run of the season. The 23-year-old infielder was called up after the All-Star break and is slashing .233/.276/.379 in 116 at-bats for the Rangers in his rookie season. Duran is worth watching down the stretch to see if the power he displayed in the minor leagues can translate into success at the major-league level.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Steps out of lineup
Rotowire
Duran is not in the lineup for Friday's game versus the White Sox.
Duran is 4-for-31 over his last nine contests and will head to the bench for Friday's contest. Josh Smith will take over at third base.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Plates three runs
Rotowire
Duran went 1-for-4 with a three-run double in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Angels.
After striking out in each of his first three plate appearances of the day, Duran came up clutch when it mattered most. With one out in a tie game in the top of the ninth, Duran stepped to the plate and delivered a bases-clearing two-bagger to help the Rangers take three of four from the Angels. The 23-year-old rookie has started in each of Texas' last five games and looks like he could handle a near-everyday role while Brad Miller (neck) is on the injured list and while Corey Seager (lower leg) is also at risk of being deactivated.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Contributes off bench
Rotowire
Duran went 1-for-2 with an RBI in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to Seattle.
Duran, who opened the game on the bench after making five consecutive starts, pinch hit for third baseman Josh Smith with lefty reliever Ryan Borucki on the mound. Duran flied out in his first at-bat but gave Texas a brief lead in the top of the ninth inning with a single, giving him hits in all six games since the break. Of the five Rangers to have started at third base in 2022, Duran's the only one who hasn't been subject to the lefty-righty platoon decisions often employed by manager Chris Woodward.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Registers third steal
Rotowire
Duran went 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Mariners.
Duran hit a single and scored on a wild pitch in the third inning. He also walked and stole second in the fourth, giving him three steals in four attempts this year. The infielder has hit safely in all five games since the All-Star break, going 5-for-17 (.294) in that span. He's started at third base in three of those contests, though it doesn't appear the right-handed hitter is getting platooned since he's started against four righties. In 21 contests overall, Duran has a .266/.301/.418 slash line with two home runs, nine RBI and 13 runs scored.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Makes third straight start
Rotowire
Duran started at third base and went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored in Saturday's 3-1 loss to Oakland.
Duran, who was called up following the All-Star break, has started all three games since -- once at second base and the last two at third. The righty hitter has been in the lineup against both lefties and righties, and the Rangers may see how he develops in an everyday role. Duran's hit in all three games and, for now, has marginalized Josh Smith and Charlie Culberson.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Collects hit, scores run in return
Rotowire
Duran started at second base and batted ninth in Thursday's 8-0 win over the Marlins, going 1-for-4 with a run scored.
Duran was called up from Triple-A Round Rock after the Rangers placed Brad Miller (neck) on the injured list. Marcus Semien, the primary starter at second base, moved to shortstop as Corey Seager got the day off. This is Duran's second stint in the majors this season, and he was one of three members of the lineup -- along with Josh Smith and Elier Hernandez -- getting their first taste of MLB in 2022. Throw the 23-year-old Leody Taveras into the mix, and a picture of an organization building toward next year's squad emerges.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Moved to Triple-A
Rotowire
Duran was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.
Duran was recently moved into a platoon role, but he will now return to Triple-A. After a hot start following his call up June 4, the 23-year-old went 1-for-15 over his final four games. With Josh H. Smith back from his shoulder injury and Corey Seager and Marcus Semien holding down their respective positions, there simply wasn't anywhere for him to crack the lineup consistently. Duran will remain a top candidate to get recalled in the coming months.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Takes seat Saturday
Rotowire
Duran isn't starting Saturday against the Tigers.
Duran is in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak in which he's hit .333 with a homer, a triple, three doubles, seven RBI, six runs and two stolen bases. However, he'll get a day off while Brad Miller shifts to third base with Zach Reks starting in left field.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Waiver Wire Targets
Rotowire
Duran made the leap from Double-A to the majors and has done a pretty solid job holding his own through the first couple of weeks, hitting .333/.351/.556. That line overstates what you can reasonably expect from him – there's probably a bit too much swing-and-miss at present for Durant to be a batting average contributor – but there's 20-20 potential here, making him a solid bet if you're looking for speed and upside.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Clubs first big-league homer
Rotowire
Duran went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Mariners.
Duran restored a one-run lead for the Rangers with his seventh-inning blast. He went 0-for-3 with an error in his debut Saturday, but it didn't take long for the top prospect to make an impact. With Andy Ibanez optioned out to Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday, Duran has a chance to establish himself as the starting third baseman while Josh Smith (shoulder) is on the injured list. Charlie Culberson will also be in contention for time at the hot corner, though both he and Duran are right-handed hitters.
