Dustin Pedroia Fixed Jarren Duran's Swing With Expletive-Ridden Coaching Session
Boston Red Sox legend Dustin Pedroia is passing the "Laser Show" torch to one of the most dynamic players on the current roster.
The infamous second baseman took some time in spring training to coach up Jarren Duran, and reportedly had a major impact on the 26-year-old's new swing -- and increased confidence.
Pedroia relayed his advice in a way that should be expected, with expletives aplenty.
"(Pedroia) basically just told me, get your hands up, be athletic, act like you’re going to hit the f—— s— out of the ball,” Duran told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. “For him to say that to me, I was like, ‘Hell, yeah. I’m going to buy in.’”
The adjustment made was to get his hands in a more neutral, hitter-friendly position -- Duran has explored hitting stances that were both too high and most recently too low in his short Red Sox tenure. However, it's clear that Duran has the tools to be special. He's often received comparisons to another Red Sox centerfielder, one that Pedroia agrees with.
“He had his hands low," Pedroia told Rosenthal. "I told him to get his hands up and be an athlete, He is very athletic and strong and reminds me of (Jacoby) Ellsbury in 2011.
“I also told him he has to be him and stop worrying about what everyone else wants him to be. He hit about 50 balls with his hands up off the machine and they were driven. And then he gave me a hug and smiled.”
Duran appears to be amid a breakout season and has been a huge factor in the Red Sox's recent success.
The surging outfielder is hitting .360 (27-for-84) with 13 extra-base hits including two home runs, 13 RBIs, five steals in as many attempts and a .991 OPS.
If Duran continues to be a changed man and a regular contributor for Boston, Red Sox Nation will have yet another reason to thank Pedroia.
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