Jarren Duran has struggled offensively this season and is far from the player he was in 2024 when he was an All-Star.
Duran led the league in doubles and triples in 2024. His numbers declined in 2025, but he still had a .774 OPS and had 70 extra-base hits. This year, he is hitting .209 with a .632 OPS, but this month has been much better.
He has played in 21 games this month, starting all but one of those games. He had a day off on Aug. 17, but is slashing .267/.321/.507 with nine extra-base hits. He has a .828 OPS, six RBIs, five walks and four homers. His batting average last month was .210.
With Roman Anthony returning soon, Duran is at risk of losing playing time. However, Masataka Yoshida's injury opens the designated hitter spot up for Duran to get at-bats. Mickey Gasper has filled in nicely, but as players return, Gasper is a candidate to lose his spot. If the Red Sox think Duran can continue to do what he's done in August, they could go back to using the designated hitter spot to get all four of Anthony, Duran, Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela in the lineup.
It seems like forever ago, but going into the season, the Red Sox had a logjam in the outfield with Yoshida, Duran, Anthony, Abreu and Rafaela. They were using the designated hitter spot to rotate them and get them days off. They could be forced to go back to doing that when Anthony is back.
If Duran goes back to struggling, they can use the designated hitter spot for someone else. Andruw Monasterio could get starts there when Trevor Story and Isiah Kiner-Falefa are back. Curtis Mead's return would also create an opportunity for one of the infielders to take the designated hitter role.