Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | MIN | RHP | 6 | 50 |
Grades Update: Apr 2021
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | CH | SPL | Ctr/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 70 | 50 | 40 | 60 | 45/40 |
Apr 2021 Report
Evaluator: Tyler Jennings
Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-5
Weight: 230 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2015 IFA (ARI)
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster
Physical Description: High-waisted pitcher with long levers and broad shoulders. Big and physical specimen. Body is relatively maxed out in terms of projection. Plenty of arm strength. Originally signed by Arizona, traded to Minnesota as part of the Eduardo Escobar deal in 2018.
Delivery & Mechanics: Throws closer to middle of the rubber and operation is triggered by a chest-high leg kick. Mechanics can get sloppy at times and refinement will be needed. Arm is up at foot plant. Throws from a high three-quarters arm slot. Relatively low effort delivery. Works downhill well.
Fastball: High octane heater that sits in the upper-90's and touches 100+ MPH on a consistent basis. Prior to trade to Minnesota, Duran's heater was more in the low-to-mid 90's. Pitch has plenty of ride at the top of the zone and throws with sink at a tough angle when he works at the bottom of the zone. Has gotten consistently better at throwing strikes and attacking hitters with the pitch. Some refinement is needed on his command of the pitch, but fits the mold of a double plus heater. Grade: 70
Curveball: The curveball has been a focus point for Duran as he's progressed through the Twins organization. He's worked on throwing the pitch more for strikes and improving the spin efficiency of the pitch. It's a hard-thrown, high spin breaker in the low-to-mid 80's with a knuckle-curve grip. He's shown flashes of serious potential with the pitch, flashing above-average or better at times, though he's still refining aspects to the pitch. Average offering for now, but there's a good chance it becomes better. Grade: 50
Changeup: Duran has begun to develop a change-up to give himself a fourth offering in his arsenal. Pitch needs more development to become an average offering. Grade: 40
Splitter: This pitch is a hybrid of a sinker and a splitter, with the organization referring to it as a “splinker.” It has the velocity of a sinker, reaching upwards of 94 MPH at times, with the depth and diving action of a splitter. It is a nasty pitch that gets plenty of swings and misses when thrown in the zone. The pitch also generates relatively weak contact. Certainly an interesting pitch, and a plus offering at that. Grade: 60
Control and Command: Duran has gotten better with his strike throwing as the years have progressed. He boasts a career 3.1 BB/9, which rates as fringe-average. Tends to lose feel and command once he gets to be a tad sloppy in his delivery, something that Minnesota is looking to refine as they eye to develop Duran as a starter. Control: 45 | Command: 40
Overall: The Twins have every intention to give Duran a chance to be a potential mid-rotation #3 or #4 SP at the next level. Development of his control/command and his curveball will be what defines the future for Duran. If neither develop, he would fit the role of an above-average reliever with a powerful fastball/splitter combination.
OFP: 50
Role: 50 - Backend SP #4 or High Leverage Reliever
Risk: High
