Rangers Spring Training Preview: Ezequiel Duran

Ezequiel Duran is a highly-touted infielder who will have to make the Rangers' 26-man roster as an outfielder or super-utility player.

InsidetheRangers.com previews every player on the Texas Rangers 40-man roster heading into Spring Training in Surprise, Arizona.

IF Ezequiel Duran

In 2022: Duran’s call-up was probably a tad ahead of schedule and prompted by the injury to fellow rookie Josh Smith. But at some point Duran — one of the four players the Rangers acquired in the Joey Gallo trade in 2021 — was going to get a shot in the Majors.

He immediately had to play out of position. He’s been a middle infielder in the minors, but he played the bulk of his time at third base and made nine of his 10 errors at the position. Still, he did show improvement. The Rangers didn’t start him in the outfield but sent him down to Triple-A in part because they wanted him to get reps there.

He’s a versatile player that Smith said in September is one of the “best hitters I’ve ever played with.” He hit the way most would expect a 23-year-old rookie to hit.

With the Rangers Duran batted .236/.277/.365/.642 in 58 games. He scored 25 runs with two doubles, one triple, five home runs and 25 RBI. He walked 12 times and struck out 54 times.

Duran’s Career at a Glance: The Yankees snagged him as an international free agent in the summer of 2017 and held onto him until the Gallo trade. At the time of the trade, he hadn’t played above High Class-A, but he was in the midst of his best season, hitting close to .300. The Rangers kept him at High Class-A Hickory, where he barely hit .230. But, in the Arizona Fall League, he batted .278/.333/.611/.944 with the home runs and 12 RBI and was named to the Fall League All-Star team.

Contract Status: Duran is in his first Major League season, based on service time, so the Rangers control his rights for the foreseeable future.

In Surprise: Expect to hear Duran’s name come up a lot in Spring Training because there’s a belief that other teams are interested in dealing for him. His path to the Majors blocked by shortstop Corey Seager and second baseman Marcus Semien. Those are his natural positions. Third base is no longer an option with the call-up of Josh Jung. Duran played a lot of outfield in the Winter Dominican League and batted well, too. Versatility is his clearest path to the 26-man roster in 2023. He has to show he can consistently toggle between an outfield option and a middle infield option. He has to show he can be that super-utility kind of player. If he can do that, plus improve his batting average in the spring, he’s a candidate to make the Opening Day roster. If not, he’ll likely start the season at Triple-A and emerge as potential trade bait next July.

2023 Texas Rangers 40-Man Spring Training Previews:

Joe Barlow | John King | Dane Dunning | Brett Martin | Jake Odorizzi | Yerry Rodriguez | Owen White | Cole Ragans | Andrew Heaney | Glenn Otto | Josh Sborz | Ricky Vanasco | Cole Winn | Nathan Eovaldi | Jon Gray | Jonathan Hernández | Spencer Howard | José Leclerc | Martín Pérez | Brock Burke | Jacob deGrom | Taylor Hearn | Jonah Heim | Sam Huff | Luisangel Acuña |

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