While it always seemed like Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran would end up at the 2024 All-Star Game, he was not voted in right away.
The 27-year-old put on an All-Star performance before the break, appearing in all of the Red Sox’s 95 games. Duran batted .284 with 41 RBIs, 27 doubles, 10 triples and 22 stolen bases.
Even with the performance he put up, Duran finished 19th in All-Star fan voting and needed to be voted in by players and coaches. Bobby Dalbec, who is currently playing with Triple-A Worcester, was shocked at the doubt that Duran would make it to Texas.
“He deserves it,” Dalbec told MLB.com’s Chris Henrique. “I can’t believe there was even a doubt that he was going to make it or not, which is crazy to me.”
Dalbec respects the fan voting process but believes fans vote more for the “coolest” players over who earned in on the field.
Luckily for Duran, there was a second round of voting that didn’t involve fans and was limited to his peers. Rafael Devers and Tanner Houck were selected alongside Duran in the second phase.
“I love that the fans are involved in the voting, but I think it should be the players that have performed the best,” Dalbec said. “The All-Star Game to me isn’t (about) the coolest guys, it should be the guys who deserve it. He’s been a guy who deserves it since Day 1.”
The All-Star Game is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas. Devers will skip the event due to a shoulder strain, but Duran and Houck will be in attendance.
