The Minnesota Twins, in collaboration with Major League Baseball, are looking into Jarren Duran’s claims regarding an incident where a fan he gestured towards during a game allegedly told the Boston Red Sox outfielder to kill himself.
Duran made the middle finger gesture while heading back to the dugout after a groundout in the fifth inning during Boston’s 6-0 defeat against Minnesota on Tuesday night at Target Field.
Dustin Morse, the Twins’ senior vice president of communications and public affairs, stated, “We became aware of the situation late last night and are currently investigating it. There is no place for such conduct in our game.” MLB also confirmed their investigation, as is standard for reviewing the actions of both players and fans before enforcing any possible disciplinary measures.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This article discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is in need of help, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. can be reached by calling or texting 988. For online support, visit 988lifeline.org.
Duran reflected on the incident, saying, “Someone told me to kill myself. At this point, I’m somewhat accustomed to it.” He acknowledged that while he “shouldn’t react that way, such comments are still triggering for him.” In a Netflix documentary that aired last year, Duran shared his struggles with severe depression, including a past suicide attempt.
“It’s my fault for being open about my mental health, which might have attracted negativity. I need to acclimate to this,” Duran stated. “I tried to keep my feelings to myself and not burden the team. We’re focused on winning, and I shouldn’t even mention it.”
Red Sox manager Alex Cora commented after the game that he had not seen the confrontation or watched any footage but expressed his hopes for accountability. “I know the Twins are investigating, and I hope they identify the individual,” Cora noted, adding that if located, “it could be the last major league game that person attends.” He emphasized their support for Duran, reiterating, “We have Jarren’s back. Opening up is not easy, but he has potentially saved lives.”
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AP Sports Writers Ronald Blum in New York and Dave Campbell in Minneapolis contributed to this report.
