There is a lot of good going on with Jarren Duran

There was a lot to like about Jarren Duran's Saturday.

The Red Sox leadoff hitter extended his hit streak to 12 games. He raced home with a daring jaunt home to give the visitors an eighth-inning lead they would never relinquish.

And then there was the game-saving catch in the ninth inning.

The immediate payoff on all of it was two-fold. First, Duran served as the undisputed catalyst in the Red Sox' 4-3 win over the Reds, putting them just 1/2-game out in the Wild Card race. Secondly, it added even more ammunition for the outfielder's All-Star case.

Duran currently owns the fifth-best WAR in all of baseball according to both ESPN.com and Baseball-Reference.com. Among American League outfielders his OPS (.826) is fifth-best, managing the third-most total bases, only behind Aaron Judge and Juan Soto.

And then there is that reality that Duran has started every single one of the Red Sox' games this season (which paved the way for a practical joke from manager Alex Cora before Game No. 77.)

"If Jarren Duran isn’t an All-Star, that’s messed up," Red Sox outfielder Rob Refsnyder told reporters. "He’s an unbelievable ballplayer. When he goes, our team goes."

All of it, however, should have been slotted behind Duran's big-picture accomplishment identified by Cora on the Red Sox Radio Network's pregame show.

"I do believe from (2014) to '17, the way this organization was run with the kids that came up, they became dudes. They became leaders," Cora said, referencing the likes of Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Xander Bogaerts. "It's the same thing here. We need a voice. We do. What I'm trying to accomplish here is not only win every game we play this year and all those games in October, but at the same time set up the organization to be successful. We understand there is a trio of players and more, actually, that are going to be here. They're going to be a huge part of the organization moving forward. But when they get here they can look up to someone who plays every day, who knows how to handle the expectations in Boston, knows how to prepare and I think Jarren can do that. Taking off the plate of Raffy (Devers). Raffy is Raffy. Let him be. He's going to lead by example. But if we can find a guy who can lead the way it's going to be better and I think Jarren can do that."

The statement was next-level praise for Duran, particularly considering the narrative formed since Devers' contract commitment that it was the third baseman's team. But while Devers certainly has been able to lead in his own way, he - as Cora points out - doesn't have to necessarily carry the kind of leadership role that isn't a great fit.

That's where Duran has come in.

The classification Cora has affixed to his leadoff hitter hasn't been born from rah-rah speeches, or gather-round-the-locker words of wisdom. This is purely about Duran being the chief representative of how the Red Sox want to go about doing things.

He has become a tone-setter in so many ways.

The only leadoff hitter who has more total bases out of the lineup's top spot is Baltimore's Gunnar Henderson, with Duran scoring the fifth-most runs of any leadoff hitter. He has 19 stolen bases, having only been caught three times. And the 27-year-old possesses the third-most Outs Above Average of any American League outfielder.

Duran has become the Red Sox' jumper cables, in more ways than anyone could have envisioned heading into this 2024 season. It's a player - and a role - which has made this whole thing go ... as was once again put on display Saturday.

"I feel like every day is a push," Duran told reporters. "I’ve got good teammates, a great clubhouse, great coaches. Every day is an honor for me to be able to be in the lineup and play with these teammates. And playing with them and this coaching staff behind me, man, I wouldn't trade this for the world."