Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper expressed admiration for Jhoan Duran’s dramatic entrance and strong performance during his debut on Friday against the Detroit Tigers. Duran, recently acquired from the Minnesota Twins at Thursday’s trade deadline, made an immediate impact by pitching the final inning and securing the save.
Duran’s entry onto the field was marked by the iconic gong sound associated with former WWE superstar The Undertaker, creating a unique and memorable atmosphere. The ballpark lights dimmed as only iPhone and stadium lights illuminated the scene, echoing the style of a WWE entrance and setting the stage for an electrifying moment at Citizens Bank Park.
Harper, who had been ejected during the seventh inning after disputing a called third strike, witnessed the last two innings from the locker room. He later shared his thoughts on Duran’s theatrical arrival.
“Yeah, it looked great from my locker,” Harper said.
The Phillies first baseman had a hand in orchestrating the special entrance, reaching out to the team’s baseball communications leaders immediately after the trade.
“It was great,” Harper added. “I mean, we all know what it was like in Minnesota when he came in the game. Right when we got him, I texted [baseball communications leaders] KG [Kevin Gregg] and Chris [Ware] and said, ‘Hey, we gotta do this, it’s really cool.’ Lights-out stuff obviously, and Detroit has seen him before, and [still] one-two-three inning there in the ninth.”
Following this dramatic introduction, Duran delivered a flawless ninth inning, retiring all three batters faced and earning his first save with the Phillies. The team held on for a narrow 5-4 victory over Detroit.
Jhoan Duran’s Impressive Save Highlights Strong Phillies Debut
Duran’s save was completed efficiently with just four pitches, starting with a groundout from Colt Keith, then a foul ball off Spencer Torkelson, and finishing with a lineout by Riley Greene. This marked Duran’s 17th save of the season and his first since joining Philadelphia.
“I still feel incredible,” Duran said shortly after securing the save in his Phillies debut. “I can’t say something. It’s amazing.”
Duran also noted the welcoming atmosphere at Citizens Bank Park and the passion of the fans for baseball.
“I can see they love baseball,” Duran remarked. “They do everything for baseball. I love that.”
The addition of Duran is expected to strengthen the Phillies’ bullpen and improve their ability to close out tight games as they push through the second half of the MLB season.