ARLINGTON -- When veteran outfielder Brandon Nimmo joined the Rangers in Surprise, Ariz., for the start of Spring Training, his first impression of Ezequiel Duran was simple.
“We got to find a way to get this guy on the field,” Nimmo recalled.
Nimmo, a lifelong Met before he was traded to Texas this past offseason, didn’t really recall who exactly Duran was. Was he a prospect? A journeyman utility infielder?
Nimmo quickly learned who Duran was. And on Saturday afternoon, Duran recorded the first walk-off plate appearance of his career, capping a ninth-inning rally with a flare RBI single to score Nimmo from third and propel the Rangers to a 7-6 win over the Royals at Globe Life Field.
“When I was watching him play in spring, I was kind of just wondering, like, ‘Why have I not heard of him?’” Nimmo continued. “I know I was in the National League, but I didn't really remember him in the lineups. I was just asking around. Come to find out, he's just coming into his own. He has earned his spot, and I think, as you've seen over the last two months, he deserves to be an everyday guy. I couldn't be more proud of him.”
Duran said he didn’t know how to explain the feeling of the walk-off hit. But his day didn’t exactly start off on a high note. In the top of the second inning, Duran didn’t swing at all in a five-pitch plate appearance, futility striking out after using an ABS challenge.
Afterwards, Duran regrouped to reach base three more times, including the walk-off single.
“Duran, I know I keep talking about him like all year, but he had a tough start to the game, right?” manager Skip Schumaker said. “He punched out on the ABS pitch that caught a lot of the plate and didn't feel real great about himself. And then, he came back. It just shows you the maturity that he has. He doesn't take every at-bat into the next one. He learns from it, moves on. It just shows you right there what he's made of. I’m really proud of Zeke.”
Everybody within the Rangers’ organization has known about Duran’s potential. He’s shown what he can do with a little bit of runway. He just hasn’t gotten that in more than two years.
Duran was slashing .308/.344/.526 before the All-Star break in 2023, in place of an injured Corey Seager. Then, Duran didn’t play for much of the second half and hit just .226 when he did take the field. Between 2024-25, he slashed .237/.278/.309 with a 72 OPS+ in 182 games.
But Duran has continued to be a good teammate and bring energy to the clubhouse, while still preparing to play every single day, whether that’s as a starter or a pinch-hitter.
“I also don't want the work that he puts in to get lost,” Schumaker said. “There's a lot of fun guys throughout the years I've been around that are just the personality of the clubhouse, but they don't put the work in like Zeke puts the work in. He is trying to be really good at multiple positions defensively, and hitting in the middle of the order. He is turning into a really, really good Major League player. The energy is obviously enormous for the clubhouse, but I don't want the work that he puts in to get lost just because he has such high energy every day.”
That work and confidence is paying off.
Now, Duran has become an integral part of a Rangers offensive operation that is currently missing some heavy hitters in Seager and Wyatt Langford. But even before the slew of injuries that have slowed down the production, Duran was already forcing his way into the lineup every day.
A natural middle infielder turned utility man, Duran has started 16 games at second base, 14 at shortstop, seven in left field, six at third base and one in right field.
In 50 games this season, Duran is now slashing .289/.343/.453, while getting steady playing time with the injuries piling up. And he’s liable to remain in the lineup when the injured players come back, too.
“I couldn't be happier for him,” first baseman Jake Burger said. “Me and him, we call each other hermanos. We're brothers. He just brings that energy every day, it doesn't matter if he goes 0-for-5 or 5-for-5, he’s going to be the same guy the next day, bringing that vibe and energy that we need. Just seeing him capitalize on the opportunity, getting to play every single day, I think that's that's big for him.
“Last year, he didn't get that opportunity. Now that he's doing that, he's showing everybody who he truly is.”