Jarren Duran was left off the U.S. Olympic baseball team, reportedly because it would be too complicated if the Red Sox wanted to call him up during the Olympic tournament. John Bazemore/Associated Press
Team USA’s roster for the upcoming Olympic Games includes one notable omission that might peel back the curtain on some of the Red Sox’ plans for this summer.
Top outfield prospect Jarren Duran played for Team USA in the Olympic qualifying tournament in late May and early June but is not on the team for the actual tournament, which begins July 30. According to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, the decision to not include Duran was made by the United States Olympic Committee – not the Red Sox – and was largely based on potential logistical challenges if the Red Sox were to promote Duran to the majors at some point during the tournament (which runs through Aug. 7.)
“Per a major league source, the decision not to include Duran on US Olympic Team was from the USOC,” Speier reported. “Red Sox would have been OK with him going – with the proviso that if they wanted to call him up, they could. With visa requirements and logistical challenges of replacing a player, Olympic team elected not to include him on the roster – for the same reason that the team doesn’t feature members of 40-man rosters. Duran is de facto big league depth at this point, very likely to reach the big leagues at some point this year.”
Duran, who has hit .278 with 15 homers, 31 RBI and a .971 OPS in 39 games with the WooSox this season, is on the verge of a major-league promotion but it’s unclear exactly when he will join the Red Sox.
Though it likely won’t happen in the coming days, the fact the was left off the Olympic roster signals that it could happen sometimes in the coming months.
Two other Red Sox minor-leaguers — first baseman Triston Casas and infielder Jack Lopez — both made Team USA for the Olympics. Casas, the consensus top prospect in the Sox’ system, participated in the qualifying tournament and will once again leave Double-A Portland to play for his country. Lopez, 28, is a depth piece who has played for both Portland and Worcester this year.
Catcher Tim Federowicz, who was drafted by the Red Sox in 2008 and traded to the Dodgers in 2011, is on the roster. Notable former big-leaguers on the team include Todd Frazier, Edwin Jackson, Scott Kazmir and David Robertson.
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