Ezequiel Duran isn’t just playing winter ball - he’s making a statement.
With Marcus Semien now in New York and the Texas Rangers second base job suddenly wide open, Duran is using the Dominican Winter League as his personal audition tape. And so far, he’s turning heads.
In 31 games with Águilas Cibaeñas, Duran is slashing a scorching .357/.420/.504 with two home runs, 21 RBIs, seven stolen bases, and a .924 OPS. That’s not just solid - that’s the kind of production that demands attention, especially when you stack it next to what he did during the 2025 MLB season.
Let’s be real: his numbers with Texas this past year weren’t inspiring. In fact, they were a far cry from what he’s putting up this winter.
He’s hitting over 100 points higher, slugging nearly 200 points better, and his OPS is up by almost 400 points. He’s already driven in seven more runs and hit two more homers in the DOWL than he did across 90 games with the Rangers.
That’s a dramatic turnaround - and one that couldn’t come at a better time.
Duran, now 26, came to Texas back in 2021 as part of the Joey Gallo trade with the Yankees. Since then, his big league career has been a mix of flashes and frustration - moments of promise, but limited opportunity. Four seasons in, and it still feels like we haven’t seen what he’s truly capable of over a consistent stretch.
That could change in 2026.
With Semien’s departure, the door is cracked open. Duran knows it - and he’s charging through with purpose. His performance this winter suggests a player who’s not just trying to hang on to a roster spot, but someone who believes he can be a key piece in the Rangers’ infield moving forward.
But let’s not sugarcoat it: the path to an everyday role isn’t going to be easy. Josh Smith, who also came over in that same Gallo trade, is viewed internally as the frontrunner for the job.
And based on recent usage and overall consistency, Smith has the edge. Duran’s major league track record doesn’t offer a lot of cushion - he’ll need to earn it, and then some.
Still, this version of Duran - the one tearing up winter ball - is exactly what the Rangers were hoping to see. He’s playing with confidence, showing off the power-speed combo that made him a prospect of interest, and reminding everyone that his 2023 campaign wasn’t a fluke.
If he can carry this momentum into spring training, the second base conversation in Arlington might get a whole lot more interesting.