Mr. Ed
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Joined: 7/14/2007
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Story on Duran, one of the guys acquired, from Chicago Tribune in June
There is no doubting the talent of Kane County Cougars pitcher Jhoan Duran.
The 20-year-old Dominican right-hander reaches the upper 90s with his fastball, but his progress was only incremental until this season.
Duran is starting to put it together.
He was 1-1 in his last four starts before Sunday, lowering his ERA from 4.15 to 2.25 in the process. He allowed two earned runs on 12 hits over 19 innings in that span while striking out 21 and walked five.
“He’s learning how to pitch,” Cougars pitching coach Rich Sauveur said last week. “He hasn’t done it in every start, but I’ve seen him be able to make adjustments on his own. I’ve seen him make quality pitches in locations where I’ve told him he needs to throw them in certain counts. The last two starts he’s thrown extremely well.”
Sauveur has been trying to preach that a well-located 93 mph fastball is better than 98 with no command. Duran has started to grasp that concept, which has led to success.
“I work from 92-95, but when I know the hitter gets comfortable at the plate, that’s when I go 98 and keep him off balance,” Duran said through his translator, Cougars infielder Jancarlos Cintron. “The experience helps a lot. I’m more mature. I go out there with a purpose and a plan. That helps a lot.”
Sauveur saw a moment that emphasizes that in Tuesday’s 7-4 loss to Peoria. The two had a productive talk before the game about varying speeds with his fastball. With a 1-2 count on Bryce Denton, Duran threw a 93 mph sinker, one of his specialties. Denton fouled it straight back.
“I yelled out to him, now, gasolina,” Sauveur said. “He threw one 98 and it went right by the guy. He had no chance. He looked at me from the field and shook his head, like now I understand. That was a good feeling.”
Working with a pitcher with the tools of Duran is fun for Sauveur. Duran features a sinking fastball that has clocked near 100 mph. He also has a developing slider and change-up. Standing 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, he projects well for the future, as well. He is ranked 15th among Diamondbacks prospects by MLB Pipeline and 21st by Baseball America.
“Even when he warms up, his first toss is 80,” Sauveur said. “Slow down. Gradually work your way up and find command of your pitches. Find the command of pitches at different velocities. Once you find it and you’re comfortable, you can turn it up. I feel like he’s finally understood what I’m talking about.”
Duran is in his fourth season in the Diamondbacks organization since being signed for $65,000 out of the Dominican Republic in December, 2014. He played in the Dominican League in 2015 before heading to the United States.
He spent the next two years bouncing between the Diamondbacks rookie league teams in Arizona and Missoula and short-season Class A Hillsboro. His best success, however, has been over the past month in his first full-season assignment.
“I’m going out there every day and competing,” Duran said. “I’m just competing every day, and that’s a huge key for me. I feel great. I feel strong. I’m ready to go.”
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Escape while you can!
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