Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
FLUSHING, NY — All-Star closer Jhoan Durán aka the Durantula is a key reason why the 2026 Philadelphia Phillies will be playing postseason baseball.
Nicknamed the Durantula by his pitching coach Luis Ramirez during his time in the minors with the Minnesota Twins prior to debuting in The Show in 2022, Durán’s posted a 1.76 ERA this season over 58 appearances and is 32 for 34 on save opportunities.
With a 1.76 ERA, the second best across the National League this season, Jhoan Duran’s 32 saves ranks fourth-best in the NL – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
The 28-year-old right-handed flamethrower’s 32 saves on the year ties the most the native of Esperanza, Dominican Republic has recorded in a single season—matching his mark from a year ago where Durán started with Minnesota and was dealt to Philadelphia ahead of MLB’s 2025 trade deadline.
“Thank God first for me to be able to do it again,” Durán said in an interview with Latino Sports this week at Citi Field as the Phillies visit Queens to face the Mets in a four game set.
“My routine is what really helped me most. It was something I worked on a little more and better with trying to learn new stuff every day. That’s the game. When we lose the game or when we win the game, with me on the mound or not, I try to learn something different about the game and about my outing. You know, like, I try to get better every day.”
In addition to his 32 saves, Durán has diced up 79 batters this year while allowing just nine walks—resulting in an 8.78 strikeout/walk ratio—the first MLB pitcher with a 8.00+ SO/BB ratio in a 30 save season since Liam Hendricks in 2021 as a Chicago White Sox.
By closing the door on the Mets Thursday night at Citi Field, the Phillies’ most recent win, Jhoan Durán recorded his 32nd save of 2026 – Image Credit: Miguel Maldonado/Latino Sports
Besides his routine altered a bit during the offseason and some throughout this regular season, Durán also credits his success on the bump to owner John Middleton and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. And that’s because of their desire to win.
“This team, it’s a competitive franchise,” Durán said as Philadelphia’s magic number to clinch the organization’s fifth consecutive trip to the postseason stands at four (85-69).
“They want to compete every year, make the playoffs and then the World Series. So that’s maybe helped me because I have that pressure on me to be good every day.”
The pressure is always at its maximum level at Citizens Bank Park, Durán’s home ballpark and one he “loves” to pitch in.
“That place is electric, I love it,” he said. “It feels like we play in the playoffs every single day over there and I feel at home there.”
Feeling at home is Durán as well as each player and coach in Philadelphia’s clubhouse, a close group regardless of the team’s performances day-by-day and 2026 win-loss record.
“With everybody in here, we try to be a family every single day since we are together for so long throughout the season,” he said. “And we care about each other outside of the game.”
There was a recent addition to the Phillies’ family last month before MLB’s August 1st trade deadline, with three-time batting champion Luis Arráez acquired by Philadelphia in a trade with the Giants.
A perfect fit and well executed move by Dombrowski and the team’s front office.
The Phillies’ acquisition of Luis Arráez last month prior to MLB’s trade deadline quickly paid dividends for Philadelphia, currently in possession of the second NL Wild Card spot with a magic number of four – Image Credit: Maz Adams/Latino Sports
“It’s been amazing having a guy like that here because we needed a guy like him,” said Durán, teammates with Arráez previously in Minnesota and now Philadelphia.
“We had a lot of power hitters, so now with him, we got a contact hitter. He’s electric, brings good energy and we need that. It’s great having him here.”
Of Arráez potentially taking home his fourth career batting title as the left-handed hitting Venezuelan All-Star is currently hitting .313 on the season—six points in front of Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (.307)—Durán said:
“That would be great, he deserves that because he is the best at what he does, and does not stop working. Every single day he is out there getting better. I have never seen that, you know, like somebody winning that award almost every year. It’s amazing to see that and I’m really happy for him.”
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