Star-Telegram Staff Writer
SEATTLE -- The wide eyes German Duran had when he joined the Texas Rangers are all but gone, as they have been since his first major-league at-bat against Roy Halladay on April 17.
Duran has faced a Cy Young winner and played in front of the Green Monster at Fenway Park. He has played three positions and found his way into the lineup against lefties and righties.
And the Fort Worth resident has shown that he belongs on a big-league roster. Duran might end up back at Triple A Oklahoma this season, and if he does, he will have left quite an impression.
"I don't think the kid ever lacked confidence," manager Ron Washington said. "The more he gets out there, the better he's looked and the more comfortable he's looked."
Duran was in the starting lineup Monday night against the Mariners, and his third-inning single was the Rangers' only hit against Jarrod Washburn through the first six innings.
But the Rangers knew Duran could hit after he batted .300 in 130 games last year for Double A Frisco. He has started to find his stroke against big-league pitching the past six games, a stretch that has seen him hit .352, including his first career home run.
The right-handed hitter is also facing more right-handed pitchers than he initially believed he would. He has four hits in 19 at-bats against them.
"My confidence is always going to be there, especially hitting because that's what I always do best," Duran said. "I'm happy that I'm getting to face more righties because the more I see them, the more comfortable I get."
Washington, though, has been most impressed with Duran's defense, a facet he struggled with during spring training. But the only errors the Fort Worth Paschal graduate has made were the two he committed in the eighth inning of an 11-9 victory over the Royals on Wednesday.
Otherwise, he has been solid. He made two impressive catches of pop flies Saturday night at second base after being a last-minute substitution for Ian Kinsler.
Duran's versatility, which has included some outfield time in addition to duties at third and second, has caught Kinsler's eye.
"It's hard enough to play one position and work on one position, but right now he's working on a bunch," he said. "He knows what to do, and he does all the right things."
So much so that Kinsler said "I don't ever see him going back" to the minors. But with outfielder Marlon Byrd likely to come off the disabled list next week and third baseman Hank Blalock to follow, numbers might dictate that Duran head back up Interstate 35.
But that's not his focus.
"I feel like I could stay here for a long time," Duran said. "I don't make that decision. Whether they need me to be here or wherever is up to them. I'm just enjoying it here as much as a can."
