Long Beach State alum
Jarren Duran was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2024 Major League Baseball All-Star Game as the American League All-Stars defeated the National League All-Stars 5-3, Tuesday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Tex. It was the third time a Big West baseball alum won the Ted Williams MVP trophy after former Gauchos
Michael Young and
Shane Bieber took the honor in 2006 and 2019, respectively.
With the score even at 3-3 and two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, Duran completed the AL All-Stars' comeback with a two-run home run to account for the final score of the game. It was the Red Sox center fielder was subbed into the game to replace Aaron Judge in the top of the inning. The fromer Dirtbags' final line was 1-for-2 with one run and two RBI.
Duran played three seasons at Long Beach State (2016-18) and earned two All-Big West honors with a career batting average of .294 and on-base percentage of .376. The Buena Park native accumulated 195 hits, 26 doubles, 10 triples, three home runs, 29 sacrifice bunts and 49 stolen bases in three seasons.