Phillies' Jhoan Duran could make a case for his first ASG appearance in 2026

Jared Bloom

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Phillies' Jhoan Duran could make a case for his first ASG appearance in 2026 image

Late in July, the Philadelphia Phillies struck a deal with the Minnesota Twins to acquire Jhoan Duran. Philadelphia needed help in the bullpen, and it turned out to be a great trade. 

Duran was fantastic in his limited games with the Phillies. He made 23 appearances after the trade, putting together a 2.18 ERA with 16 saves on 20.2 innings of work. 

Between the Twins and the Phillies, Duran was exceptional. He pitched a career-high 70 innings, putting together a career-low 2.06 ERA and a career-high 32 saves in total. 

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Phillies' Jhoan Duran could make a case for his first ASG appearance in 2026

Despite the season Duran had in 2025, he was not selected as an All-Star. However, he did make the All-MLB First Team last season. 

Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter believes he could be in store for another great season, which could lead to his first All-Star Game appearance. 

"The 27-year-old had a 2.18 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 11.8 K/9 with 16 saves in 23 games after the Phillies acquired him from the Twins at the trade deadline, and he should see no shortage of save opportunities over a full season in Philadelphia. The 2026 All-Star Game will also be played at Citizens Bank Park, which opens the door to showcase arguably the coolest entrance of any closer in baseball."

Reuter argues that with his stuff and the game being at Citizens Bank Park, it makes for the perfect opportunity for Duran to take the ball for the first time during the Midsummer Classic. 

This could be a season where Duran takes an obvious step above many other closers. He will certainly be one to watch and could be a reason for Philadelphia's success in 2026.

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