BOSTON — Boston Red Sox star outfielder Jarren Duran reportedly admitted in a new Netflix documentary on the ballclub that he attempted to take his own life during the 2022 season.
The Boston Globe reviewed “The Clubhouse: A Year With the Red Sox,” noting that in the fourth episode, Duran described trying to commit suicide with a rifle, but the weapon didn’t fire.
“I got to the point where I was sitting in my room; I had my rifle and I had a bullet and I pulled the trigger and the gun clicked but nothing happened,” Duran said in the episode, according to the newspaper.
The Globe said that the episode showed a series of highlights on Duran but then shifted to focus on the struggles he had with errors and mistakes during that 2022 season.
“It honestly felt like a dark cloud over me,” Duran said. “Because it’s so easy to look past the positive things for me and to grab onto the negative things.”
Duran, now 28, described that season as a “pretty low time,” adding, “I didn’t even wanna be here anymore.”
In a statement, Red Sox president Sam Kennedy called Duran’s decision to courageous.
“Jarren’s decision to share his story is an act of courage that reaches far beyond baseball,” Kennedy said. “By opening up, he’s showing others who may be struggling that they’re not alone and that asking for help isn’t just okay, it’s essential. Every member of this organization continues to stand with him. He has our deepest admiration, he’s always had our full support, and we’re incredibly fortunate to have him as part of our team.”
Duran also revealed that he felt pressure to live up to the expectations of his father and recalled him purposely throwing baseballs at him when he was younger, according to the report.
“We live in a tough world, we do and the pressure to perform at this level is unique, nobody knows what a professional athlete has to go through,” said Alex Cora, Red Sox manager. “We lived it through Jarren right throughout his career, we’ve seen part of the stuff right, and I’m glad that I work for the Boston Red Sox and we take this very seriously.”
“I think suicide and thoughts about ending your life are pretty common amongst every age group, every gender regardless of where you’re from, so to hear it coming from someone who’s so visible – as an athlete is quite prominent, and starts making people realize this is a bigger issue that a lot of people struggle with and starts decreasing the stigma,” said Dr. Cristina Montalvo, Chief of Emergency Psychiatry at Tufts Medical Center.
“When you think about people who have tried to die by suicide and who have survived, nine out of ten of those individuals will not go on to die by suicide, so really it’s a story of hope,” said Dr. Montalvo.
Last season, Duran was named MVP of the MLB All-Star game after he hit a tie-breaking two-run homer in the fifth inning to lead the American League to a victory over the National League.
Less than a month after the All-Star game, the Red Sox issued an unpaid, two-game suspension over a homophobic slur that he hurled at a heckling fan.
Duran later apologized for his actions, calling his language “truly horrific.”
In 363 career games with the Red Sox, Duran has 368 hits, including 34 home runs, 101 doubles, and 22 triples. He has also racked up 70 stolen bases.
“The Clubhouse: A Year With the Red Sox” starts streaming on Netflix on April 8.
It features eight episodes that give fans a behind-the-scenes look at the mental pressure and physical demands of a grueling 162-game season.
The filmmakers were given access to players both on and off the field and covered the team from spring training through the end of the season.
If you or someone you know is dealing with a mental health crisis, there is help available. Call the National Suicide and Crisis hotline at 988. Operators are available 24 hours a day.
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