Watch: Ezequiel Duran Hits First Home Run for Rangers
Ezequiel Duran hit his first Major League home run with the Texas Rangers as he drilled a solo shot in the bottom of the seventh inning on Sunday against Seattle at Globe Life Field.
Duran came up in a tie game against Mariners reliever Andrew Munoz. Munoz retired Adolis García — who homered earlier in the game — and Nathaniel Lowe and only needed to get Duran to end the inning.
Duran had other ideas, as he hammered a 2-1 pitch from Munoz into left field to break the tie.
Duran made his first MLB start on Saturday after being called up from Double-A Round Rock late Friday night and went 0-for-3. He ended up recording his first hit earlier on Sunday on a chopper to Mariners third baseman Eugenio Suárez, who mishandled the ball when he tried to bare-hand it.
Duran was one of the hottest players in the Rangers’ minor league system. He came to Texas with a hitting slash of .317/.365/.574/.939 with seven home runs and 31 RBI. He hit 24 doubles, a career-high in the minors, and drew seven walks.
When the Rangers dealt Gallo to the New York Yankees last July, the Rangers received infielder Josh H. Smith, Duran, infielder/outfielder Trevor Hauver and Otto. Otto made his MLB debut last August. Hauver is playing in Class A.
Duran is the Rangers’ No. 4 prospect according to MLB.com. Only pitcher Jack Leiter, pitcher Cole Winn and third baseman Josh Jung are ahead of him.
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