Ezequiel Duran #11

Ezequiel Alberto Duran…signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on 7/2/17 out of San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic…fell off the international prospect radar after failing to register with MLB following his 16th birthday in 2015, but came to terms with New York-AL as an 18-year-old two years later…signed by NYY scouts Juan Rosario, Raymon Sanchez and Victor Mata.

2021

Acquired from the New York Yankees on 7/29 in six-player trade involving OF Joey Gallo...combined for a .267/.342/.486/.827 slash line with 19 HR, 79 RBI and 19 SB in 105 G at the High-A level between Hudson Valley in the NYY org. and Hickory in the TEX organization…was one of four players at the High-A level to accumulate at least 19 HR and 19 steals in 2021 (also CR’s Michael Helman, ROM’s Jesse Franklin V, EVE’s Connor Hoover)…ranked among High-A leaders in total bases (T4th, 202), RBI (5th, 79), extra-base hits (8th, 47) and hits (10th, 111)…his average exit velocity (92.0 mph) was tied with Sherten Apostel for the highest among Texas farmhands (source: FanGraphs)…split time mainly between second base (44 GS) and shortstop (40 GS), but saw majority of action at shortstop following the trade…spent the early portion of the 2021 offseason playing in the Arizona Fall League, where he slashed .278/.333/.611/.944 (20-72) with three home runs and 12 RBI in 19 G for the Surprise Saguaros…earned selection to the league’s annual “Fall Stars” All-Star game on 11/13…was added to Rangers’ 40-man roster on 11/19 as protection from the Rule 5 Draft…rated by Baseball America as the no. 11 prospect in the NYY system entering 2021 and the no. 5 prospect in the TEX system following the trade.

2020

Did not play due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2019

Was named a Short-Season All-Star by Baseball America after hitting .256 (63-for-246) with 49R, 12 doubles, 4 triples, 13HR, 37RBI and 11SB in 66 games with short-season Single-A Staten Island…led the New York-Penn League in home runs and ranked second in runs, extra-base hits (29) and total bases (122), third in slugging (.496) and sixth in RBI…was ranked the No. 7 prospect in the NYPL by Baseball America…was named NYPL “Player of the Month” for July (.333, 36-for-108, 23R, 7 doubles, 2 triples, 7HR, 20RBI in 26G)…earned NYPL “Player of the Week” honors for 7/15-21 (.462, 12-for-26, 5R, 4 doubles, 2HR, 5RBI in 6G).

2018

 Played in 53 games for Rookie-level Pulaski.

2017

 Made his professional debut, hitting .393 (24-for-61) in 15 games with the DSL Yankees.