‘She Cried’: Rangers’ Ezequiel Duran Calls Mom After Call-Up

Ezequiel Duran discovered he was going to affix the Texas Rangers on Friday evening, shortly after third baseman Josh H. Smith injured his shoulder towards the Seattle Mariners.

The Rangers’ No. 4 prospect, who was taking part in for the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders, was in Wichita, Kansas for an extended Texas League highway journey. The teaching workers advised Duran he was getting the decision.

The primary particular person he referred to as was his mother.

“She cried,” Duran mentioned mentioned by way of an interpreter after his Main League debut on Saturday towards the Mariners.

He went 0-for-3, began at third base for Smith and was charged with an error. The Rangers received, 3-2.

The Rangers didn’t finalize their transaction or their lineup till lower than 90 minutes earlier than the sport, partially as a result of they wanted Duran to get again from Wichita. Duran arrived in sufficient time to take batting follow with the Rangers. Texas supervisor Chris Woodward slotted Duran within the seventh spot within the order.

“It was a fantastic second,” Duran mentioned. “I’ve been ready a very long time for this.”

With Smith on the 10-day injured record, and different choices at third base banged up, it seems like Duran will get a have a look at that place whereas he’s up with the Rangers.

“I don’t know the way lengthy he’s going to be right here, however he’s going to get a glance there,” Woodward mentioned.

Whereas Duran talked with the media after the sport, Smith was in one other a part of the clubhouse with ice on his injured shoulder. Smith’s damage on Friday required a sling for his left arm.

Duran, like Smith, got here to the Rangers within the Joey Gallo commerce final 12 months. He’s the third prospect from that commerce to affix the Rangers, after pitcher Glenn Otto — who obtained the win on Saturday — and Smith.

Not like Smith — who grew to become the sixth Ranger ever to have no less than three hits in his MLB debut — Duran wasn’t in a position to get successful, although he put two well-hit balls in play.

Duran went to the plate for the primary time to steer off the underside of the third. To that time, Mariners beginning pitcher Marco Gonzalez had retired six straight. He popped up a 2-1 pitch to Mariners first baseman Ty France.

Duran’s first probability within the area, which got here within the prime of the fifth, was an error. France hit a tough grounder to Duran at third, nevertheless it was definitely playable. The ball skipped a bit off the filth and hit his arm simply above the heel of his glove. He had no play at first he was charged with the error.

Within the backside of the fifth, Duran confronted Gonzalez once more, this time with the Rangers up 3-2. He hit a screaming line shot down the third final analysis that the Mariners’ Abraham Toro fielded simply for the primary out of the inning.

He atoned for that error within the prime of the sixth when he simply fielded a line drive from Adam Frazier for the inning’s second out.

Duran reached on his third at-bat within the seventh, as he hit a pointy grounder to Frazier at third. He momentarily bobbled it after which threw it to second, trying a double-play to finish the inning. However second baseman Adam Frazier’s relay to first was only a bit late and Duran was protected. It ended up being a fielder’s alternative.

Duran is likely one of the hottest gamers within the Rangers’ minor league system. He involves Texas with a hitting slash of .317/.365/.574/.939 with seven dwelling runs and 31 RBI. He hit 24 doubles, a career-high within the minors, and drew seven walks. Solely pitcher Jack Leiter, pitcher Cole Winn and third baseman Josh Jung are forward of him on the prospect record.

“I simply wish to get pleasure from myself and work onerous,” Duran mentioned.

You’ll find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard

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