'Kind of triggering': Duran explains inappropriate gesture toward heckler
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MINNEAPOLIS – When Jarren Duran opened himself up about a 2022 suicide attempt in a Netflix docuseries about the Red Sox that was released last year, his main motivation was to increase awareness among people dealing with mental health struggles.
He wanted to be someone kids could learn from. When you’re in a dark place, ask for help.
For the most part, Duran’s plan has come to fruition. But the one unfortunate thing that has come out of it is that every now and then, a spectator will use Duran’s words against him.
According to Duran, that happened on Tuesday night at Target Field. With the Red Sox in the throes of an eventual 6-0 loss to the Twins, Duran made an obscene finger gesture to a fan sitting in the stands behind first base after grounding out in the fifth inning.
What happened?
“Yeah, somebody just told me to kill myself,” Duran said after the game. “I'm used to it at this point. [Things] happen. I’m gonna flip somebody off if they say something to me, but it is what it is. I shouldn't react like that. That kind of stuff is still kind of triggering. It happens.“
For all the good Duran has done by spreading mental health awareness, he realizes that he, at times, makes himself a target.
In a situation last year in Cleveland, Duran received similar taunts and was held back by coaches as he attempted to confront a fan seated near the visiting dugout.
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“Honestly, it’s my fault for talking about my mental health, so I kind of brought in the haters,” Duran said. “So it’s just something I’ve got to get used to.”
While his teammates and coaches came to his defense in Cleveland, Duran didn’t let them in on what was going on Tuesday.
“I didn't really tell anybody, so that's on me,” Duran said. “Just trying to hold it in, not really bring that up to the team. I mean, we're trying to win a game. I shouldn't even bring that up to anybody. It's not really something where I want to be like, ‘Bro, you should have heard what this guy said to me.’ That’s not the most important thing. The most important thing is winning the game, and it just happens.”
Duran said he will try to do a better job of controlling his emotions in such situations in the future.