Phillies news: Jhoan Duran makes 'sad confession about returning to Minnesota to play Twins

Phillies news: Jhoan Duran makes ‘sad confession about returning to Minnesota to play Twins appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Jhoan Duran had waited more than a year to return to Minnesota after the Twins traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies, but the homecoming came with mixed emotions for the former Twins closer.

Duran returned to Minnesota 381 days after the trade on Aug. 13 during the Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa, receiving a pregame video tribute from the Twins, the designated home team. (The rest of the series is being played at Target Field in Minneapolis.) Before the game, he acknowledged that returning as a member of the visiting team felt different than he had imagined.

“It’s really good, really good to be back,” Duran said, via a social media post on X, formerly Twitter, by Dan Hayes of The Athletic. “A little sad, too, because I am being on this side. … I remember when the schedule was out, I turned to my wife and said to her, ‘I want to go to Minnesota. I can’t wait for that.'”

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Duran made his major league debut with Minnesota in April 2022 before becoming the Twins’ full-time closer the following season. He recorded 74 saves during his time with the organization, ranking 10th on Minnesota’s career list.

Philadelphia acquired Duran at last season’s trade deadline in a deal that sent catching prospect Eduardo Tait and right-hander Mick Abel to Minnesota. Tait, 19, has hit 20 home runs for High-A Cedar Rapids, while Abel has a 3.98 ERA in four appearances, including three starts, for the Twins. Abel underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery in July and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.

Duran has continued to establish himself at the back of Philadelphia’s bullpen. He entered the weekend with a 1.70 ERA, 59 strikeouts in 42 1/3 innings and a 25-for-27 mark in save opportunities.

His recent work has also been effective. Per MLB Stats, Duran did not allow a run in any of his first seven August appearances, including a scoreless inning against Minnesota on Thursday. He allowed five hits and one walk over those seven innings while striking out six.

The Phillies have also discussed potentially asking Duran to record more than three outs as the season progresses, with Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reporting that manager Don Mattingly said the club has begun preparing its relievers for that possibility.

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