AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter: Boston Red Sox second baseman Kiké Hernandez running off the field during a May 2, 2021, game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas.
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BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox have reinstated infielder/outfielder Kiké Hernández and optioned outfielder Jarren Duran, who is rejoining the WooSox.
Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made this announcement following Friday night’s game, when the Red Sox lost to the White Sox 4-2. Hernández, 30, wasn’t on the COVID-19 related injury list for long. He was added to the list the day Bloom announced his return.
In order to make room for Hernández, Duran was sent back to Triple-A Worcester. Twenty-five-year-old Durran, a left-handed hitter, started Friday night’s game against the White Sox in center field, where he went 1-for-4 with a triple run and scored.
So far this season, Duran’s batting average is .397 with a 1.116 OPS, 15 runs, eight extra-base hits, 11 RBI, and seven stolen bases in 15 games for Worcester’s highly coveted Triple-A team. Duran’s a likely eventual recruit for the Red Sox. Baseball America ranked him the Red Sox’s No. 4 prospect and 84th overall.
Hernández – who started 24 of 27 games so far this season – is poised to start on center field this morning when the Red Sox take on the White Sox yet again. Despite his COVID-related setback, Hernández has played well this season. He’s tied for second on the team with eight doubles and third for having scored 15 runs.
Perhaps Hernández’s return will make the difference for the Sox, who lost the last two games to the White Sox and are currently in last place in the American League East, with 10 wins and 18 losses so far this season.
