MLB, Twins investigating Red Sox's Jarren Duran, alleged heckler

Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran aimed an obscene gesture toward a fan during a loss to the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday in Minneapolis. File Photo by David Tulis/UPI

April 15 (UPI) -- MLB is investigating after Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran aimed an obscene gesture toward a fan during a loss to the Minnesota Twins, a source familiar with the probe told UPI on Wednesday.

The Twins also announced Wednesday they are looking into the incident, which occurred in the fifth inning of a win over Duran's Red Sox on Tuesday in Minneapolis. Duran told reporters his gesture was triggered by a fan who allegedly told him to die by suicide.

"We were made aware of the situation late last night and are looking into it," the Twins said. "There's no place in our game for conduct like that."

The Red Sox trailed 5-0 to start the fifth inning. Duran walked to the plate as the first batter of the inning. The Red Sox outfielder, who has had several contentious moments with fans throughout his career, worked a 2-2 count against starter Mick Abel.

He then hit the right-handed pitcher's next offering to second baseman Luke Keaschall, who threw him out at first base.

Duran touched the base, turned right and used his left hand to display his middle finger toward the crowd at Target Field. He then went back to the Red Sox dugout.

"Yeah, somebody just told me to kill myself," Duran said. "I'm used to it at this point. [Expletive] happens. I'm going to flip somebody off if they say something to me. It is what it is.

"I shouldn't react like that, but that kind of stuff is still kinda triggering."

Duran said the incident was his fault because he "brought in the haters" when he spoke about a 2022 suicide attempt during a Netflix documentary series, which was released last year.

"Honestly, it's my fault for talking about my mental health, so I kind of brought in the haters," Duran said. "So it's just something I've got to get used to."

Duran said he did not tell his teammates about his alleged heckler Tuesday in Minneapolis. He dealt with a similar situation last season in Cleveland, which led to an ejection of that fan.

Abel allowed just four hits over seven shutout innings against Duran's Red Sox to earn his first win of the season.

Duran went 0 for 4 in the loss. He hit .182 with a home run, three doubles, 10 RBIs, 10 runs scored and two stolen bases through his first 14 games this season.

The Red Sox (6-11) will take on the Twins (11-7) in the series finale at 1:40 p.m. EDT Wednesday at Target Field.

Help is available if you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters. In the United States, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Globally, the International Association for Suicide Prevention and Befrienders Worldwide have contact information for crisis centers around the world.