Jhoan Manuel Duran (pronounced jo-AHN doo-RAN) Sanchez...X: @JhoanDuran14...Instagram: @jhoan_duran59...wife, Aida...children, Ray, Amy and Jacob...earned high school equivalency diploma on Jan. 29, 2020 after a two-year course of study to become part of the second graduating class of the Twins’ baseball academy in the Dominican Republic...has spent a lot time learning English over the last couple years...when he goes home to the Dominican Republic in the offseason, he doesn't speak any English and often forgets parts the language, but makes an effort to learn as much as he can from his teammates and coaches immediately when spring training starts...fan of the TV show "The Simpsons"...claims his hidden talent is that he is a good cook...participated in 2023 and 2024 TwinsFest at Target Field.
2024
Began season on 15-day Injured List with strained right oblique...appeared in two games in late April on rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul; reinstated on April 30...Earned save in first appearance on April 30 at Chicago-AL, throwing one scoreless inning in a Twins 6-5 victory...Converted each of first 11 save opportunities from April 30-June 16, extending his save streak to a career-long 15-straight which dated back to Sept. 2, 2023...Allowed a home run in career-long three-straight games from May 17-22, one of which was a go-ahead homer by José Ramírez on the 17th at Cleveland in the eighth inning, the next being a Will Brennan walk-off homer on the 19th...Blew first save of season on June 21 at Oakland...Threw hardest pitch of season on July 13 at San Francisco, a 103.9 mph 4-seamer that LaMonte Wade Jr. fouled off...Passed three former Twins on Target Field's all-time saves list during season: Brandon Kintzler (20), Matt Capps (22) and Taylor Rogers (27)...passed Rogers with 28th save at Target Field on Aug. 9 vs. Cleveland (Game 1), moving into sole possession of second, trailing Glen Perkins (52)...that save also gave him 51 career saves, passing Rogers and tying Bill Campbell for 10th on Twins all-time saves list (since 1961)...Saved 52nd career game on August 15 at Texas, pitching one scoreless inning, passing Bill Campbell and moving into sole possession of 10th on Twins' all-time saves list...Allowed season-high and career-high-tying four runs (three earned) in the 10th inning on Aug. 27 vs. Atlanta and was issued the loss in a Twins 8-6 defeat...Saved 54th career game on August 30 vs. Toronto, tying Mike Marshall for ninth on Twins' all-time saves list...passed Marshall with 55th on Sept. 1 vs. Toronto, moving into sole possession of ninth...Did not allow a home run in final 34 games (31.1 IP) from June 26-Sept. 26 and allowed just one in final 48 games (44.2 IP) — Shea Langeliers on June 21 at Oakland...One of four pitchers in baseball with at least 20 saves, at least five holds and at least 10.0 strikeouts-per-9.0 IP, the others being Tanner Scott, Camilo Doval and Andrés Mu?oz...Twins went 42-16 in games in which he appeared...Held left-handed batters to a .218 average and right-handed batters to a .252 average...Ranked in 100th percentile in baseball in average fastball velocity (100.5 mph), 99th in ground ball percentage (61.7%), 98th in barrel percentage (3.5%), 94th percentile in xERA (2.70) and 93rd in whiff percentage (32.9%)...Opponents hit .151 (8-for-53) against his curveball with 27 strikeouts...Finished tied for eighth in the AL in saves (23)...also third in save percentage (92.0%, 23-for-25)...Ranked 11th in baseball in average pitch velocity at 95.4 mph...threw fastball averaging 100.5 mph, tied with Justin Martinez for third-best in baseball, trailing Ben Joyce (102.1 mph) and Mason Miller (100.9 mph)...Totaled 256 pitches of 100+ mph, fourth-most in baseball, trailing Mason Miller (510), Justin Martinez (426) and Emmanuel Clase (285).
2023
Made Twins Opening Day roster for second time in career and second consecutively...Earned the save on Opening Day on March 30 at Kansas City, pitching 1.0 scoreless inning with one walk and one strikeout, closing a Twins 2-0 victory...Set career-high with three walks on April 29 vs. Kansas City and was dealt first loss of season, allowing a ninth-inning run to break a 2-2 tie...Threw a split-finger pitch 101.9 mph on May 20 at Los Angeles-AL in an at-bat to Chad Wallach (ball), the fastest offspeed pitch ever recorded...Threw another splitter at 101.1 mph on Aug. 1 at St. Louis in an at-bat to Jordan Walker (swinging strike)...Had season-long save streak of seven from April 12-June 17; posted 1.14 ERA (23.2 IP, 3 ER) in 21 games during span...Struck out multiple batters in six-straight appearances from May 15-June 2, tied for seventh-best streak in Twins history...Threw pitches at 104.0 mph, 104.4 mph and 104.6 mph on May 24 vs. San Francisco, setting career highs at the time and highest mark in Twins history...The 104.6 mph pitch tied for eighth-fastest pitch by any hurler in Statcast Era (2015-present)...Tied season/career high with 104.6 mph pitch to Myles Straw on June 2 vs. Cleveland...Threw season-high 38 pitches (2.0 IP) on June 9 at Toronto...Posted a stretch where he pitched 2.0 innings of relief five times in a span of 12 appearances from May 10-June 21, posting a 1.10 ERA (16.1 IP, 2 ER) during that span...Twins went 10-2 in that time frame...Threw fastest pitch of career/by a Twins pitcher in the Statcast Era (2015-present), a 104.8 mph pitch to Eugenio Suárez on July 19 vs. Seattle...Posted monthly ERAs of 2.79 (9.2 IP, 3 ER) in 11 April games, 0.00 ERA (10.2 IP) in eight May games, 1.86 ERA (9.2 IP, 2 ER) in eight June games, 6.52 ERA (9.2 IP, 7 ER) in 10 July games, 2.84 ERA (12.2 IP, 4 ER) in 12 Aug. games and 1.00 ERA (9.0 IP, 1 ER) in nine Sept. games...Went 0-2, 2.27 ERA (31.2 IP, 8 ER) with opponents hitting .200 in 30 home games and 3-4, 2.64 ERA (30.2 IP, 9 ER) with opponents hitting .214 in 29 road games...Held left-handed hitters to a .205 batting average with a .523 OPS, compared to .209 batting average with a .722 OPS vs. righties...Threw 473 pitches at least 100 mph on season, the most in baseball...Also threw 199 pitches at least 102.0 mph, 56 pitches at least 103.0 mph and nine pitches at least 104.0 mph, all the most in baseball...Struck out at least one batter in 47 of 59 appearances, two-plus batters in 29 appearances and three-plus eight times...Ranked sixth in the AL (minimum of 60.0 IP) in strikeouts-per-9.0 IP at 12.1 and 12th in baseball...Twins were 47-12 in games in which he appeared...Posted an ERA of 2.89 (9.1 IP, 3 ER) on zero days rest, a 2.40 ERA (15.0 IP, 4 ER) on one day rest and 1.54 ERA (11.2 IP, 4 ER) on two days of rest...Posted a 21.1 opposing hitter "sweet spot" percentage, lowest in the AL and second lowest in baseball...Led baseball in average four-seam fastball velocity (101.8 mph), splitter velocity (98.4 mph) and second in curveball velocity (87.7 mph)...Posted a 36.6 swing-and-miss percentage, sixth best in the AL and ninth best in baseball (minimum 60.0 IP)...Posted a 66.2 ground ball percentage, ranking in the 99th percentile in baseball...Posted an xERA of 2.65 and an xBA of .185, both ranking in the 98th percentile...Posted a 32.9 strikeout percentage, ranking in the 96th percentile...Posted a 35.2 whiff percentage, ranking in the 95th percentile...Posted an opponent batting average of .159 (10-for-63) with 37 strikeouts on his curveball (282 pitches)...Curve had a 45.9 whiff percentage...Ranked seventh in the AL in saves (27)...Was one of just two pitchers in baseball with at least 25 saves, an opponent batting average under .210 and a strikeouts-per-9.0 innings pitched ratio of at least 12.0; the other was Baltimore's Felix Bautista...One of two pitchers in Twins/Senators franchise history with such criteria, joining Joe Nathan (2005 and '06)...Appeared in four postseason games for Twins, going 0-0, 0.00 ERA (5.0 IP) with two saves (two opportunities), two hits allowed, one walk and six strikeouts vs. Toronto (ALWCS) and Houston (ALDS)...Made postseason debut on Oct. 3 vs. Toronto in Game 1 of the ALWCS...Saved both games vs. Toronto in ALWCS sweep at Target Field, striking out two in 1.0 inning in Game 1 and three in 1.0 inning in Game 2...Saved a 3-1 victory in Game 1 on Oct. 3, ending the Twins' MLB record 18-game playoff losing streak...Saved a 2-0 victory in Game 2 on Oct. 4, securing the series victory, the Twins' first series win in the postseason since 2002...The Game 1 save marked the first for a Twin in a postseason game since Joe Nathan saved Game 1 of the ALDS on Oct. 5, 2004 at New York-AL...Pitched in two games in ALDS vs. Houston, pitching 1.0 scoreless inning in Game 2 at Minute Maid Park (6-2 win) and 2.0 scoreless innings in the Game 4 elimination game at Target Field (3-2 loss).
2022
Made Twins Opening Day roster for first time in career and spent season in bullpen; used all season in high-leverage situations....Made major league debut on Opening Day April 8 vs. Seattle, pitching 2.0 shutout innings with one walk and four strikeouts...recorded first career strikeout, fanning Mitch Haniger...started the outing with a single and a walk, then struck out the next three batters...Earned first career save May 2 at Baltimore, pitching 1.0 scoreless inning with one strikeout in a Twins 2-1 victory....Set season-high with five strikeouts in 2.0 innings pitched May 7 vs. Oakland...Earned first career win on July 13 vs. Milwaukee, pitching 1.0 scoreless inning in a Twins 4-1 victory...Struck out at least one batter in season-long 13-straight appearances from July 16-Aug. 19...23 of final 26 appearances on season were scoreless from July 13-Sept. 27 (0.94 ERA)...Threw a 'splinker' 100.8 mph during an at-bat to Alex Verdugo August 29 vs. Boston, the fastest off-speed pitch in major league history... the result was a strikeout of Verdugo....Threw a pitch 103.8 mph Sept. 27 vs. Chicago-AL, the result being a foul ball by Elvis Andrus...was tied for sixth-fastest pitch thrown in baseball on season and fastest ever by a Twin...Posted an 11.8 strikeouts-per-9.0 IP ratio, the 15th-best in the AL, fourth among AL rookies...struck out at least one batter in 45 of 57 appearances and multiple batters in 30 appearances....Held left-handed hitters to a .204 average, compared to .209 vs. right-handed hitters....Went eight-for-eight in save opportunities...one of three pitchers in baseball to convert 100% of saves (minimum 8 save opps), joining Aroldis Chapman (NYY, 9-for-9) and Pete Fairbanks (TB, 8-for-8)....Ranked sixth among AL relievers in ERA (1.86) and 12th in baseball...ranked third among AL relievers in strikeouts (89) and eighth in baseball...Ranked tied for fourth among all rookies in baseball in saves (8) and fourth in holds (18)....Was one of four pitchers in baseball with at least eight saves and 18 holds, joining Devin Williams (MIL), Rafael Montero (HOU), John Schreiber (BOS) and Jason Adam (TB)...became first pitcher in club history to do so....Tied Doug Corbett (1980) for most strikeouts by a rookie reliever in club history with 89...Ranked second in club history in saves among rookies with eight, trailing only Doug Corbett's 1980 total of 23...Became the 17th rookie in American League/National League history with at least eight saves and a save percentage of 100.0 in a single season, first in the majors since Hisanori Takahashi (8 SV) for New York-NL in 2010 and first in AL since Tippy Martinez (10 SV) for New York-AL/Baltimore in 1976....Led baseball in pitches of at least 100 miles-per-hour with 392...led baseball in average four-seam fastball velocity (100.8 mph), splitter velocity (96.4 mph) and second in curveball velocity (87.8 mph)...entering season, Twins pitchers had combined to throw just 30 pitches of 100-plus in the Statcast Era (Jorge Alcala had the most with 15 from 2020-21)....Threw 93 pitches of 102 mph-or-faster, the most in baseball...threw 10 pitches at 103 mph or-faster, also most....Posted a 34.9 swing-and-miss percentage, the 12th best in baseball (minimum 1,000 pitches thrown)...posted a 37.8 chase percentage, ranking in the 98th percentile in baseball...Posted an opponent batting average of .120 (10-for-83) with 45 strikeouts on his curveball (321 pitches)...curve had a 49.7 whiff percentage...Given Joseph W. Haynes Award as Twins Pitcher of the Year and the Bill Boni Award as Twins Most Outstanding Rookie, both awards voted on by the Twin Cities Chapter of the BBWAA...became the third pitcher to win both awards in the same season, joining Doug Corbett (1980) and Scott Diamond (2012)....Named to MLB.com/MLB Pipeline's 2022 All-Rookie Second Team.
2021
Pitched in Twins spring training for second consecutive season and optioned to alternate training site on March 14...Appeared in five games for Triple-A St. Paul, making four starts and totaling 16.0 innings pitched from May 22-June 15 before being shut down for the season, experiencing a right elbow strain...placed on 7-day Injured List on June 20...Pitched in the Instructional League in Fort Myers, Fla. during October...Ranked as the 10th-best prospect in the Twins system by Baseball America following the season.
2020
Added to 60-man Player Pool and spent season at alternate training site in St. Paul, MN...Ranked fifth best prospect and best fastball in Twins system by Baseball America...ranked Twins fifth best prospect by MLB.com.
2019
Entered the season ranked the seventh-best prospect in the Twins system by Baseball America...Began season with Single-A Ft. Myers ... Named Twins minor league Pitcher of the Week June 2, making one start for the Miracle, allowing one run on two hits in 6.0 innings pitched with 14 strikeouts ... Promoted to Double-A Pensacola July 25...Recorded double-digit strikeout totals in three starts: 14 on May 26 at Daytona, 11 on June 18 at Charlotte and 11 on Aug. 23 vs. Jackson...Combined to go 5-12, 3.76 ERA (115.0 IP, 48 ER) with 40 walks, 136 strikeouts and a .230 opponent batting average in 23 games (22 starts) at both levels combined...held right-handed batters to a .183 average and left-handed batters to a .293 average...Finished season ranked as ninth-best prospect in Twins system by MLB.com...Added to Twins 40-man roster Nov. 20...Earned high school equivalency diploma on Jan. 29 after a two-year course of study to become part of the second graduating class of the Twins' baseball academy in the Dominican Republic...Ranked as sixth best prospect and best changeup in Twins system by Baseball America following the season.
2018
Began season with Single-A Kane County (Arizona), appearing in 15 games...traded to Minnesota along with outfielders Ernie De La Trinidad and Gabriel Maciel in exchange for Eduardo Escobar; assigned to Single-A Cedar Rapids...in his first start with the Kernels on July 30, threw 7.0 scoreless and hitless innings while walking one and striking out eight...named Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Week and Midwest League Pitcher of the Week for the week of July 29-Aug. 5, went 1-0, 2.03 ERA (13.1 IP, 3 ER) with 17 strikeouts in two starts.
2017
Split season between AZL Diamondbacks and Single-A Hillsboro...named Northwest League Pitcher of the Week for the week of Aug. 20, earned the win in his only start after shutting out Eugene on one hit and one walk with five strikeouts over 7.0 innings.
