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• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Not worried about drop in velocity

  12D ago • By RotoWire

  Duran's fastball velocity has been down this spring, but he says it's by design, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "I focus more on my mechanics and my pitches' movement," Duran said this week. "I don't need to throw really hard right now. Maybe in the [regular season] I throw harder, or maybe not." Duran "only" reached 100.8 mph with his fastball Saturday while tossing a scoreless inning against the Red Sox and striking out one. That's in contrast to the 102.5 mph he hit in his first spring outing of 2023, per Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic. The decline doesn't appear to be a major concern, as his fastball is still elite and he could just be easing into spring training as a more established veteran. Duran is set to return as Minnesota's closer, but manager Rocco Baldelli often deploys his bullpen without regard for the save statistic, meaning Griffin Jax and others will get save chances if matchups call for Duran to be used earlier in the game.

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• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Gets $4.125 million from Minnesota

  01/09/2025 • By RotoWire

  The Twins and Duran avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.125 million contract Thursday, Darren Wolfson of Channel 5 Saint Paul reports. Duran had an elevated 3.64 ERA but a quality 66:15 K:BB over 54.1 innings of work with the Twins in 2024. He is at the top of the pecking order for saves again in 2025, although manager Rocco Baldelli isn't shy about using other relievers to close games on occasion.

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• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Allows run but grabs save

  09/12/2024 • By RotoWire

  Duran allowed a run on three hits and struck out two over one inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Angels. Duran was able to protect a one-run lead in the ninth inning despite giving up an RBI single to Nolan Schanuel. Over his last seven appearances (5.2 innings), Duran has surrendered eight runs (seven earned), though he's still logged five saves in that span. The right-hander is now at a 4.10 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 56:13 K:BB while racking up 23 saves through 48.1 innings this year.

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• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Picks up 22nd save

  09/05/2024 • By RotoWire

  Duran got the save in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Rays, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning. Duran entered the game to protect a one-run lead, and he struck out the first two batters he faced and then induced a weak grounder to end it. Following a rough stretch in August, Duran has been better as of late with four straight clean outings in which he's only allowed one hit and racked up four saves in the process. The 26-year-old closer is now 22-for-24 in save opportunities this season with a 3.45 ERA.

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• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Earns 21st save

  09/03/2024 • By RotoWire

  Duran earned the save in Monday's 5-4 win over the Rays, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning. Duran was called upon for the second straight day and came through with the save on 14 pitches. It was the 26-year-old's first clean appearance since Aug. 15, but he has successfully converted five of his six save opportunities in that span. On the year, he is 21-for-23 in save chances and owns a 3.52 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 51:13 K:BB across 46 innings.

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