[2][3] He was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the seventh round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.

[5][6] He started the 2019 season with the High-A Salem Red Sox,[7][8][9] and was promoted to the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs on June 3.

[18] During the 2020–21 Puerto Rican Winter League season, he was named MVP of the final series, helping Criollos de Caguas to the championship.

[38] Duran remained with Boston until being placed on the restricted list in late June when the team traveled to Toronto, due to his vaccination status.

[39] On July 22, he once again fell victim to Toronto, this time in center field at Fenway Park where he lost track of a fly ball and apparently gave up on the play, resulting in Raimel Tapia of the Blue Jays scoring an inside-the-park grand slam; the Red Sox lost the game, 28–5, setting a Blue Jays record for the largest margin of victory.

[40] Duran was optioned back to Worcester on August 27, when Trevor Story was activated from the injured list.

[41] Duran was later recalled by the Red Sox for one game in Toronto, on September 30, having been vaccinated since the June series.

[43] He was recalled to Boston on April 17, after an injury to Adam Duvall[44] Over the next several months, Duran established himself as an effective hitter (ranked fourth in MLB for doubles) and base stealer (24-for-26) at the major-league level.

[48] Prior to spring training, Duran was announced by manager Alex Cora as the leadoff hitter for the 2024 season.

[56] In May 2021, Duran was named to the roster of the United States national baseball team for the Americas Qualifying Event.

[58] Duran is of Mexican descent through his father, allowing him to represent Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.