Which college program did 2026 MLB deadline candidate Jarren Duran play for?

Jarren Duran played college baseball for Long Beach State.

Duran spent three seasons at California State University, Long Beach, whose baseball team is known as the Dirtbags. He was primarily a second baseman in college and made 169 starts there before the Boston Red Sox selected him in the seventh round of the 2018 MLB draft.

Long Beach State helped showcase Duran’s speed and contact skills. Across his three NCAA seasons, he hit .294 and became known for aggressive baserunning. Boston drafted him as an outfielder, so his professional position differed from the role he most often played in college.

Duran’s college identity is sometimes blurred with other strong Southern California baseball programs, including UCLA, Arizona State and Cal State Fullerton. Those schools are nearby and have produced many major leaguers, but Duran’s program was Long Beach State. He later represented the American League in the 2024 All-Star Game and was named its Most Valuable Player.