Duran picked up by Marlins

After helping AirHogs to title, native son gets chance to go back to bigs

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – He joined the Grand Prairie AirHogs late in the season, only playing in 12 regular season games, but German Duran was a major contributor in the postseason, as he helped the club to the 2011 American Association championship. Now, Duran will get a chance to return to the Major Leagues, as the team announced that his contract has been sold to the Miami Marlins and will head to Spring Training in Jupiter, Fla., in February.

After spending high school and college in the Metroplex, Duran made his big league debut on April 17, 2008 for his hometown Texas Rangers. He played in 60 games that season for the Rangers, hitting .231 with three home runs and 16 RBIs.

Duran signed with the AirHogs on August 12, and hit .317 down the stretch of the regular season, with two home runs and nine RBIs, while playing a solid shortstop.

But it was in the playoffs where the 27-year-old really made his impact. Despite injuring his ribs in the series against Wichita, Duran played in six of the AirHogs’ nine playoff games, and led the club with a .536 batting average. He also hit a home run in the decisive Game 5 of the Championship Series against St. Paul, drove in five runs in the postseason and scored 10 runs, tied for the most on the team despite missing the three games due to injury.

“I am thankful and grateful for this opportunity,” Duran said. “And I am blessed to be getting this great opportunity to start a new wave in my career.”

“We needed a guy late in the year to step up and help us, and German did it and then some,” AirHogs manager Ricky VanAsselberg said. “He was really critical in helping us win the championship and I wish him all the best in his efforts to get back to the Major Leagues.”

Duran’s American Association rights will revert to the AirHogs if he does not make a Marlins club out of Spring Training. He joins pitchers Greg Smith (Yankees) and Dustin Cameron (Phillies) as players to be signed by Major League teams since the 2011 season began.

The 2011 American Association Champion Grand Prairie AirHogs begin the defense of their title on Thursday, May 17, against the Laredo Lemurs at 7:30 p.m. The 2012 home opener is Monday, May 21, at 7:05 p.m. against the El Paso Diablos. Check back at the team’s official Web site www.airhogsbaseball.com for any other off-season news as develops. For information on 2012 tickets, promotions, advertising, and other opportunities with the AirHogs, check out the Web site as well, or call the QuikTrip Park office at (972) 504-9383.