The esteemed Hank Aaron Award was established in 1999 on Hank Aaron’s 25th anniversary of surpassing Babe Ruth’s record for home runs. A panel of Hall of Famers and baseball enthusiasts votes to select the winners, and this year’s 10 finalists were revealed on Monday. Jarren Duran, the center fielder for the Boston Red Sox and a fan favorite, received a nomination for his excellent offensive play this season.
The Hank Aaron Award is given annually to each league’s top overall offensive performer. With 12,364 at-bats and 2,174 runs scored, Aaron is tied for fourth place all-time in the MLB batting record book with Babe Ruth. His stats are nothing to laugh at. Barry Bonds shattered Aaron’s record of 755 career home runs in 2007. Hank Aaron concluded his career with a batting average of.305, 2,297 RBI, and 1,477 extra-base hits.
Among the ten players nominated for this award, Jarren Duran stands out as the most impressive offensive performer for the Red Sox this year. As Boston’s center fielder, he led the American League with 48 doubles and 14 triples. Duran also hit 21 home runs and recorded 34 stolen bases, becoming the third player in franchise history to achieve a 20-30 season, joining the ranks of Jacoby Ellsbury and Mookie Betts. His total of 83 extra-base hits ranks fourth in MLB, highlighting his exceptional offensive contributions this season.
After winning the MLB All-Star MVP award this year, Jarren Duran expressed his gratitude for receiving the Ted Williams Award as a member of the Red Sox. He said, “That’s an honor; who better to emulate than someone like him? He was an incredible baseball player and a remarkable person.” During the press conference, Duran showed humility and pride in the legacy of the Boston Red Sox clubhouse.
As the fifth player in franchise history to win the award, Duran shared his thoughts on his family after his All-Star performance. He stated, “It’s tough to put into words. Honestly, I couldn’t stop thinking about my family and the chance to see them after the game. I’m just grateful I could do that and contribute to the AL team’s victory.
There is some steep competition, with ten other AL nominees like Yordan Alvarez and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. being nominated. Including New York Yankees Center Fielder Aaron Judge only time will tell who takes home the Hank Aaron Award this season.
With such prestige, the last time a Boston Red Sox player took home the Hank Aaron Award was in 2016 when David Ortiz took home the crown. Kevin Youkilis before that in 2008, Ortiz again in 2005, and Manny Ramirez in 2004. Since its start in 1999 only four Red Sox have won, will Jarren Duran be the fifth?
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