Zack Kelly supports Jarren Duran's All-Star bid with pointed message

Jarren Duran is in the midst of a breakout season for the Red Sox. Photo by Matthew J Lee/Globe Staff

Jarren Duran is on a roll for the red-hot Red Sox.

The spark at the top of Boston’s lineup, the 27-year-old outfielder is currently hitting .293/.355/.488 with seven homers, 37 RBIs, 20 steals, an AL-best 23 doubles and a league record. 10 triples.

Duran, who had a base hit to help Boston beat the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night, is now in the middle of a 14-game hitting streak – with a .419 batting average during that stretch with nine extra base hits and 16 runs scored. .

But even though Duran currently sits fourth in MLB in WAR (behind only Gunnar Henderson, Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani), his breakout season hasn’t led to much recognition in terms of All-Star consideration.

In the latest All-Star voting update released Monday afternoon, Duran ranked 19th overall among American League outfielders in the fan vote. With the AL’s top six vote-getters expected to be officially announced on Thursday, June 27, Duran likely won’t have enough time to overtake several players and earn a spot on the AL roster.

That didn’t sit well with Red Sox pitcher Zack Kelly, who supported his teammate while speaking to the Boston HeraldGabrielle Star after Monday’s victory.

“Duran: All-Star. Hell yeah,” Kelly told Star. “It’s ridiculous that Duran is 19th among AL outfielders (in voting) and has a top 10 WAR in all of baseball. This is bull (expletive). You can also print it.

It’s hard to argue with Duran’s basic stats and underlying metrics and project him on the outside looking in at an all-star roster in July.

Duran still has a chance to make the reserve team, with 23 players for the AL and NL teams expected to be selected via a “player ballot” to be announced on Sunday, July 7.

The MLB All-Star Game will take place on July 16 at Globe Life Field Park in Arlington, Texas.

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