Ezequiel Duran

Ezequiel Duran's Biography

Ezequiel Alberto Durán, born on May 22, 1999, is a well-known Dominican professional baseball utility player who is currently signed with the Texas Rangers of the Major League Baseball (MLB). His career graph in the MLB saw its exciting start with his debut match in 2022.

Before stepping into MLB, Durán was signed by the New York Yankees on July 2, 2017, as an international free agent. This move came with a signing bonus of $10,000 propelling Durán’s professional unveiling onto the global baseball platform. He began his professional journey in that same year, showcasing his talent for the DSL Yankees of the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League. His impressive statistics of hitting .393/.415/.754/1.169 with 3 home runs and 11 RBI over 15 games affirmed his prowess on the field.

In 2018, Durán took to the field for the Pulaski Yankees of the Rookie-level Appalachian League, hitting .201/.251/.311/.562 with 4 home runs and 20 RBI. The subsequent 2019 season saw him playing for the Staten Island Yankees of the Class A Short Season New York-Penn League, helping him gain further ground with 13 home runs, 37 RBI, and 11 stolen bases, and hitting an impressive .256/.329/.496/.824.

The untimely global circumstance of the COVID-19 pandemic put a brake on Durán’s journey as the Minor League Baseball season was cancelled in 2020. The following year, Durán shook off the hiatus and started with Hudson Valley Renegades of the High-A East league. Over 67 games, he marked .290/.374/.533/.907 with 12 home runs, 48 RBI, and 12 stolen bases.

Major transition came into Durán’s career on July 29, 2021, when he, along with Josh Smith, Glenn Otto, and Trevor Hauver, was traded to the Texas Rangers. The trade saw the Yankees acquiring Joey Gallo and Joely Rodríguez. Following the trade, Durán was assigned to the Hickory Crawdads of the High-A East where he finished the season posting .229/.287/.408/.695 with 7 home runs and 31 RBI.

Durán seized the off-season opportunity and played in the Arizona Fall League for the Surprise Saguaros, hitting .278/.333/.611/.944 with 3 home runs and 12 RBI and earned the Fall League All-Star team selection. Given his impressive performance, it didn’t take long for Texas to pick Durán for their 40-man roster on November 19, 2021.

In the 2022 minor league season, Durán displayed his increasingly versatile performance by playing between the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Texas League and the Round Rock Express of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. Over 78 games, he recorded a combined .302/.344/.555/.899 performance with 16 home runs, 33 doubles, 57 RBI, and 14 stolen bases.

June 4, 2022 brought in an unforgettable event in Durán’s career. He was promoted to the major leagues for the first time, making his major league debut match against the Seattle Mariners. A day after his debut, Durán made his mark by recording his first career hit, an infield single, and his first career home run. Over the course of 58 games for the Texas Rangers in 2022, Durán had already begun to make a name for himself, hitting .236/.277/.365/.643 with 5 home runs, 10 doubles, 4 stolen bases, and 25 RBI. His journey in the sport continues, as he persistently furthers his professional status and contribution towards the world of baseball.