Jhoan Manuel Duran...Twitter: @JhoanDuran14...Instagram: @jhoan_duran59...earned high school equivalency diploma on Jan. 29, 2020 after a two-year course of study to become part of the second graduating class of the Twins’ baseball academy in the Dominican Republic...participated in 2023 TwinsFest at Target Field in January.
2022
Made Twins Opening Day roster for first time in career and spent season in bullpen; used all season in high-leverage situations...Made Major League debut on Opening Day April 8 vs. Seattle, pitching 2.0 shutout innings with one walk and four strikeouts...recorded first career strikeout, fanning Mitch Haniger…started the outing with a single and a walk, then struck out the next three batters...Earned first career save May 2 at Baltimore, pitching 1.0 scoreless inning with one strikeout in a Twins 2-1 victory...Set season-high with five strikeouts in 2.0 innings pitched May 7 vs. Oakland...Earned first career win on July 13 vs. Milwaukee, pitching 1.0 scoreless inning in a Twins 4-1 victory...Struck out at least one batter in season-long 13-straight appearances from July 16-Aug. 19...23 of final 26 appearances on season were scoreless from July 13-Sept. 27 (0.94 ERA)…Threw a 'splinker' 100.8 mph during an at-bat to Alex Verdugo August 29 vs. Boston, the fastest off-speed pitch in major league history...the result was a strikeout of Verdugo...Threw a pitch 103.8 mph Sept. 27 vs. Chicago-AL, the result being a foul ball by Elvis Andrus...was tied for sixth-fastest pitch thrown in baseball on season and fastest ever by a Twin...Posted an 11.8 strikeouts-per-9.0 IP ratio, the 15th-best in the AL, fourth among AL rookies...struck out at least one batter in 45 of 57 appearances and multiple batters in 30 appearances...Held left-handed hitters to a .204 average, compared to .209 vs. right-handed hitters...Went eight-for-eight in save opportunities...one of three pitchers in baseball to convert 100% of saves (minimum eight save opportunities), joining Aroldis Chapman (NYY, 9-for-9) and Pete Fairbanks (TB, 8-for-8)…Ranked sixth among AL relievers in ERA (1.86) and 12th in baseball...ranked third among AL relievers in strikeouts (89) and eighth in baseball...Ranked tied for fourth among all rookies in baseball in saves (8) and fourth in holds (18)…Was one of four pitchers in baseball with at least eight saves and 18 holds, joining Devin Williams (MIL), Rafael Montero (HOU), John Schreiber (BOS) and Jason Adam (TB)…became first pitcher in club history to do so...Tied Doug Corbett (1980) for most strikeouts by a rookie reliever in club history with 89...Ranked second in club history in saves among rookies with eight, trailing only Doug Corbett's 1980 total of 23...Became the 17th rookie in American League/National League history with at least eight saves and a save percentage of 100.0 in a single season, first in the majors since Hisanori Takahashi (8 SV) for New York-NL in 2010 and first in AL since Tippy Martinez (10 SV) for New York-AL/Baltimore in 1976...Led baseball in pitches of at least 100 miles-per-hour with 392...led baseball in average four-seam fastball velocity (100.8 mph), splitter velocity (96.4 mph) and second in curveball velocity (87.8 mph)…entering season, Twins pitchers had combined to throw just 30 pitches of 100-plus in the Statcast Era (Jorge Alcala had the most with 15 from 2020-21)…Threw 93 pitches of 102 mph-or-faster, the most in baseball...threw 10 pitches at 103 mph or-faster, also most...Posted a 34.9 swing-and-miss percentage, the 12th best in baseball (minimum 1,000 pitches thrown)…posted a 37.8 chase percentage, ranking in the 98th percentile in baseball...Posted an opponent batting average of .120 (10-for-83) with 45 strikeouts on his curveball (321 pitches)…curve had a 49.7 whiff percentage...Given Joseph W. Haynes Award as Twins Pitcher of the Year and the Bill Boni Award as Twins Most Outstanding Rookie, both awards voted on by the Twin Cities Chapter of the BBWAA...became the third pitcher to win both awards in the same season, joining Doug Corbett (1980) and Scott Diamond (2012)…Named to MLB.com/MLB Pipeline's 2022 All-Rookie Second Team.
2021
Pitched in Twins Spring Training for second consecutive season and optioned to alternate training site on March 14...Appeared in five games for Triple-A St. Paul, making four starts and totaling 16.0 innings pitched from May 22-June 15 before being shut down for the season, experiencing a right elbow strain...placed on 7-day Injured List on June 20...Pitched in the Instructional League in Fort Myers, Fla. during October...Ranked as the 10th-best prospect in the Twins system by Baseball America following the season.
2020
Added to 60-man Player Pool and spent season at alternate training site in St. Paul, MN...Ranked fifth best prospect and best fastball in Twins system by Baseball America...ranked Twins fifth best prospect by MLB.com.
2019
Entered the season ranked the seventh-best prospect in the Twins system by Baseball America...Began season with Single-A Ft. Myers ... Named Twins minor league Pitcher of the Week June 2, making one start for the Miracle, allowing one run on two hits in 6.0 innings pitched with 14 strikeouts ... Promoted to Double-A Pensacola July 25...Recorded double-digit strikeout totals in three starts: 14 on May 26 at Daytona, 11 on June 18 at Charlotte and 11 on August 23 vs. Jackson...Combined to go 5-12, 3.76 ERA (115.0 IP, 48 ER) with 40 walks, 136 strikeouts and a .230 opponent batting average in 23 games (22 starts) at both levels combined...held right-handed batters to a .183 average and left-handed batters to a .293 average...Finished season ranked as ninth-best prospect in Twins system by MLB.com...Added to Twins 40-man roster November 20...Earned high school equivalency diploma on January 29 after a two-year course of study to become part of the second graduating class of the Twins' baseball academy in the Dominican Republic...Ranked as sixth best prospect and best changeup in Twins system by Baseball America following the season.
2018
Began season with Single-A Kane County (Arizona), appearing in 15 games...traded to Minnesota along with outfielders Ernie De La Trinidad and Gabriel Maciel in exchange for Eduardo Escobar; assigned to Single-A Cedar Rapids...in his first start with the Kernels on July 30, threw 7.0 scoreless and hitless innings while walking one and striking out eight...named Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Week and Midwest League Pitcher of the Week for the week of July 29-August 5, went 1-0, 2.03 ERA (13.1 IP, 3 ER) with 17 strikeouts in two starts.
2017
Split season between AZL Diamondbacks and Single-A Hillsboro...named Northwest League Pitcher of the Week for the week of August 20, earned the win in his only start after shutting out Eugene on one hit and one walk with five strikeouts over 7.0 innings.
