GOOD NEWS: A Surprise Birthday from Jarren Duran That Red Sox Fans Will Never Forget
By [Your Name]
July 20, 2025
When Jarren Duran stepped into the pediatric oncology wing of Boston Children’s Hospital last Tuesday afternoon, he wasn’t wearing his Red Sox uniform. No cameras were following. No press release had been drafted. He carried a simple white cake, a Red Sox jersey, and four tickets to Fenway Park in a paper bag.
But for 9-year-old Ethan Morales and his family, it may as well have been Game 7 of the World Series.
Ethan, who has been battling osteosarcoma—a rare and aggressive bone cancer—for over a year, had one wish for his birthday: to meet his favorite baseball player, Jarren Duran. And while many children’s wishes go through foundations and publicized channels, this one was different.
It was Duran himself who reached out.
A Quiet Request, A Loud Impact
“I heard about Ethan through one of our clubhouse attendants,” Duran told The Athletic. “He has a cousin who volunteers at the hospital. She mentioned Ethan’s story in passing, and it stuck with me.”
Duran, now in his breakout year as the face of the Red Sox outfield, has never been one for the spotlight outside of baseball. But he’s often first in the dugout to help a struggling teammate or share a quiet word with fans. This time, he wanted to do something that mattered beyond the diamond.
The visit was planned in under 48 hours. The Red Sox front office helped coordinate logistics, but Duran insisted it be low-key. “No press, no PR,” he told them. “This is about Ethan.”
A Room Full of Love
When Duran walked into the hospital room, Ethan was sitting up in bed, wearing a faded Red Sox cap and watching highlights from last week’s sweep of the Yankees.
“He froze,” Ethan’s mother, Lucia Morales, said through tears. “Then he looked at me and whispered, ‘Is that really him?’”
Duran laughed and nodded before walking over to hand Ethan the cake—decorated in red, navy, and white with “Happy 9th Birthday, Slugger” in frosting.
But the moment that went viral came just minutes later. In a clip posted to TikTok by Ethan’s older sister, Ethan throws his arms around Duran’s neck, tears streaming down both their faces. As of this writing, the video has been viewed more than 5.8 million times and shared by players, fans, and even the official MLB account.
“This Is What It’s About”
Red Sox manager Alex Cora wasn’t surprised.
“Jarren has always had the biggest heart on the team,” Cora said after Friday’s game. “People talk about WAR and OPS, but this—this is what it’s about. Making people feel seen, giving them something to believe in.”
Duran, who later presented Ethan with a game-worn jersey and promised to dedicate his next home run to him, downplayed the gesture when asked.
“I’m just a ballplayer,” he said. “But if showing up for a kid like Ethan gives him a day without fear, then that’s more important than any stat I’ll ever put up.”
A City Reacts
The story has sparked a wave of emotional reactions across Boston. Local media have dubbed Ethan “Boston’s Strongest Fan.” The Red Sox Foundation announced that it would cover Ethan’s medical expenses for the remainder of the year.
Even Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey weighed in, tweeting:
“Heroes don’t always wear capes. Sometimes they wear cleats and carry birthday cakes. Thank you, Jarren Duran.”
Fans are already calling for the Red Sox to honor Ethan at Fenway during an upcoming homestand. One Change.org petition with over 70,000 signatures asks the team to let Ethan throw the first pitch at the next Yankees game.
More Than Baseball
For Duran, the moment was never about attention.
“I just wanted to make a kid smile,” he said. “The rest… I didn’t expect.”
But those close to Duran say this is far from the first time he’s stepped up for the community. During the offseason, he frequently volunteers with youth baseball camps and quietly donates gear and equipment to schools across Massachusetts.
“I think Jarren sees the game as more than just wins and losses,” said teammate Rafael Devers. “He sees it as a platform to give back—and he does it without ever asking for credit.”
What Comes Next
Ethan will undergo another round of chemotherapy in August, but for now, he’s focused on something else: attending his first Red Sox game in person.
“He’s counting the days,” said his father, Miguel Morales. “He tells everyone that Jarren Duran is his best friend. And honestly, after what that man did for our son… we believe it.”
In a season filled with breakout performances, bullpen battles, and playoff hopes, Jarren Duran’s quiet birthday surprise may end up being the most unforgettable moment of them all.
Sometimes, heroes do more than swing bats.
Sometimes, they show up—unannounced—with cake in hand and a heart wide open.