Ezequiel Duran has had an up-and-down time with the Texas Rangers, but still possesses value to the team given his defensive versatility.
Duran’s talent has never been a question, as he was a highly ranked prospect when he came up with Texas. As he looks to find a consistent role with the Rangers, he will need to turn things around in the 2025 season.
Here’s 10 things to know about Ezequiel Duran.
1. The basics
Name: Ezequiel Alberto Durán
Born: May 22, 1999
Hometown: San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic
Ht./Wt.: 5-11, 185 pounds
Position: 3B, SS, 2B, OF
2. Fleecing the Yankees
Duran was acquired by the Rangers from the New York Yankees at the 2021 trade deadline. Amid a 100-loss season, the Rangers were clear sellers and had a key piece they could sell to contenders that season: All-Star outfielder Joey Gallo. The Rangers sent New York Gallo, pitcher Joely Rodriguez and cash considerations, while the Yankees sent Duran, Josh Smith, Trevor Hauver and pitcher Glen Otto.
Duran made his debut the next season and has been a key piece for the Rangers at times. Combine that with the fact Josh Smith was nearly an All-Star in 2024 and Gallo’s time in New York went very poorly, and it’s clear the Rangers won the trade.
3. Going to be a dad soon
In March 2024, Duran and his partner announced they are expecting their first child.
In the caption of the announcement, he referred to the child as a “prince,” so it sounds like it’s boy! Incoming dad strength for Ezequiel Duran!
4. A surprising prospect
Ahead of the 2022 season, The Dallas Morning News ranked Duran as the No. 7 prospect in the team’s farm system.
His growth as a prospect is shocking given how cheaply the Yankees signed him as an international free agent. New York signed him for just $10,000 as an 18-year-old after he failed to submit the proper paperwork required to sign the previous year.
As mentioned above, he made his major league debut in 2022, which happened due to his impressive offensive numbers he was putting up in the minor leagues.
5. Unsung hero of 2023 World Series season
Corey Seager, who wound up finishing second in MVP voting, missed about six weeks early in the 2023 season with a hamstring issue.
In his absence, Duran assumed the role of the Rangers’ starting shortstop and he thrived. In his first 40 games, he hit .301 with seven home runs and 23 RBI, and Duran filling in strongly for Seager helped Texas to a 19-13 record while Seager was out.
The Rangers wound up barely making the playoffs before ultimately winning the World Series. Without Duran’s early-season contributions while Seager was on the shelf, it’s fair to wonder if Texas even makes the playoffs.
In the 2023 season, he slashed .276/.324/.443/.768 with 14 home runs.
6. Owes his success to his mom
He said, on Mother’s Day in 2023, that he was going to quit baseball if not for his mother.
“I told my mom that I didn’t want to play ball anymore,” he said. “I told her that if I turned 18 and didn’t manage to be signed, I would give up baseball and start studying.”
His mother, Ramona, revealed her message to her son. “What God has for you is not taken from you by anyone. Don’t give up,” she said from the Dominican Republic.
That summer, Duran signed a contract with the Yankees.
7. Super utility
His primary position as a prospect was at third base and shortstop, but the Rangers are well-situated at third base with Josh Jung and both middle infield spots with Corey Seager and Marcus Semien.
To fit in with the Rangers, he’s had to demonstrate plenty of versatility and play all over the field so Bruce Bochy could get his bat into the lineup at times.
Ready to see all the positions he has played for the Rangers? Take a deep breath.
He has appeared at third base, left field, center field, right field, first base, second base, shortstop and designated hitter. Duran has spent the most time (101 games and 839 innings) at third base and the least time in center field, which was just a one-inning stint.
Despite some subpar offensive production in 2024, his defensive value remains very strong. Given his defensive versatility, Bruce Bochy once called him “every manager’s dream.”
8. A difficult 2024
Duran had a very rough 2024 season at the plate for the Rangers.
In 92 games, he slashed .246/.288/.321/.609 with just three home runs, which was a precipitous fall from his 2023 numbers. Things got so rough that he was sent back down to Triple-A Round Rock to regain his confidence.
In 19 games at Triple-A Round Rock, he hit five home runs and had an .857 OPS before being recalled back to Texas.
9. A prankster
Rangers center fielder Leody Taveras once outed Duran as a big-time jokester.
“Ezequiel is a happy guy, always smiling and making many jokes,” Taveras said in an interview in Spanish.
“He is very funny and sometimes he goes after me,” he continued, laughing. “He is always trying to play jokes on me because I always bother him. We get along very well.”
Bochy said he has also noticed the good atmosphere Durán inspires in the clubhouse.
“Ezequiel is always smiling. He loves his teammates, and he is loved and appreciated by his teammates,” Bochy said.
10. Potential to be a Spanish teacher
Enjoy this video of Duran teaching some Spanish to his Rangers teammates, which the Rangers shared during 2024 spring training.
He could make a decent Spanish teacher!
Find more Rangers coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
