Alex Cora Believes Jarren Duran Will ‘Save Lives’ With Netflix Transparency
Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran showed his bravery with the revelation he made in a Netflix documentary that comes out Tuesday.
And Red Sox manager Alex Cora believes Duran’s openness to talk about his past suicide attempt will make a profound impact.
“Obviously, I was aware of it,” Cora told reporters prior to Monday’s game, per MassLive’s Sean McAdam. “Since I learned about it, me as a person, I’ve given him support and love, just somebody he can talk to. That door was always open. The relationship has grown throughout the years.
“Obviously, there were a lot of private conversations about the subject. I truly believe that him opening up is going to help a lot of people. It takes a person with courage and being transparent and genuine to do that and I hope that’s how we see it — that he will impact others and he’s going to save lives with what he did (in the documentary shown on) Netflix.”
Cora wasn’t the only one to throw his support behind Duran once details of the prior suicide attempt became public. Red Sox CEO and president Sam Kennedy and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred each issued statements saluting Duran.
Duran has been candid about his mental health struggles and Netflix’s “The Clubhouse: A Year With The Red Sox” captured Duran’s battle in the episode titled “Stay Alive.” Duran, 28, revealed things hit rock bottom for him during the 2022 season.
“I got to the point where I was sitting in my room, I had my rifle and I had a bullet, and I pulled the trigger and the gun clicked, but nothing happened,” Duran said in the episode, per McAdam. “To this day, I think God just didn’t let me take my own life because I seriously don’t know why it didn’t go off. But I took it as a sign of like, ‘Alright, I might have to be here for a reason.’ So that’s when I started looking myself in the mirror, after the gun didn’t go off. I was like, ‘Alright, do I want to be here or do I not want to be here?'”
Cora, who played 14 seasons in the big leagues, understands the pressure and scrutiny his players deal with on a daily basis. Cora saw strides over the years from the Red Sox and in MLB to help players cope.
Cora said he and some players have used the guidance of mental skills coaches to help them get through trying times.
“It’s something that is a tool and a department that is needed for every professional team and company,” Cora said. “It’s needed. We know that. We live in a tough world and the pressure to perform at this level is unique. Nobody knows with a professional athlete has to go through.”
The Samaritans have provided suicide prevention services in Massachusetts for 50 years. They have a 24/7 help line among other services and for people under the age of 25, they have a “Hey Sam” peer-to-peer texting service. The number for the text line is 439-726.