MIAMI — On a column next to Jarren Duran’s locker in the Red Sox’ clubhouse at Fenway Park, a two-page letter from Major League Baseball is posted for everyone to see.
The letter, addressed directly to Duran, is from Michael Hill, the league’s senior vice president of on-field operations. It’s an official warning that Duran violated policies by wearing a custom-made undershirt that says “F--- ‘Em.” in a postgame interview with NESN’s Jahmai Webster after Duran hit a walk-off single to beat the Blue Jays in a comeback win June 24. One page of the letter is Hill’s warning that Duran shouldn’t be seen on TV wearing a shirt with expletives on it. The other is the evidence — screenshots of Duran and Webster on the field with Duran donning the shirt.
Duran understands that he broke baseball’s rules. But considering what the slogan means to Duran — and everything he has been through in both his major league career and life — the letter isn’t going to change much.
“I’m not surprised because obviously, it’s bad words and bad language,” he said Thursday before playing the Marlins. “It’s understandable. I’m glad they didn’t fine me. They just gave me a warning. If I ever hit a walk-off again, I’ll just take everything off so I don’t get in trouble.
“But that would be a fine I’d be happy to pay,” he added. “I wouldn’t have a problem paying that fine because it’s just me wearing something that means a lot to me.”
Duran’s struggles with mental health are well-documented, dating back to Aug. 2022, when he opened up to MassLive about the issues he had endured as a scuffling rookie in the major leagues. In spring training, he posted a photo on Instagram with “F--- Em!” written on tape around his wrist during a game and explained to WEEI that it had been something he had done throughout 2023 as well. The message found its way onto T-shirts that have been worn throughout the year by Duran’s teammates and members of the Red Sox coaching staff. The slogan has become something of a rallying cry for the group throughout a breakout season for Duran, who has a good chance of being named to his first career All-Star team when reserves are announced Sunday.
For Duran, the slogan means everything.
“It’s basically saying the phrase to the mental demons that were trying to get me to not be here anymore,” he said. “Telling them to basically back off, that I can do this and I want to be here.
“I’m still gonna wear it under my jersey every single time. It means something to me. It’s no disrespect. It’s just something that means a lot to me so I’ve got to represent it, even when I get in trouble for it.”
Manager Alex Cora said he got a free shirt from Duran that he has worn on occasion. He’s not the only head coach in town to want one. When the Celtics visited Fenway Park to celebrate their NBA championship early last week, Joe Mazzulla liked Duran’s shirt so much that the outfielder gifted him one. And now, Duran is trying to take them public.
On his Instagram account, Duran has started to advertise the sale of the shirts. A Shopify link in his bio leads to a page that allows fans to purchase them for $30 each. Duran isn’t selling them for personal gain, however.
“I’m gonna try to raise some money and talk to the Red Sox and see where I can donate for some mental health,” he said. “I have a couple places in mind. We’re gonna talk it over and see which one we can help out the most.”
Duran’s journey from embattled rookie to fan favorite has not been a linear path. On top of becoming the Sox’ most electrifying player this season — and accomplishing historic feats — he has become a leader in the clubhouse and a favorite among teammates. That’s evidenced in the support behind a shirt the league office doesn’t seem to love.
“He’s very comfortable with himself at the big league level,” Cora said. “I’m glad that we were patient. I’m glad that we were very patient because this is a guy a lot of people around the league like. He’s our leadoff guy, he’s our outfielder and hopefully in a week, he’ll be an All-Star.”