Caleb Durbin, acquired in December from the New York Yankees as part of the trade package for relief pitcher Devin Williams, is set to make his MLB debut with the Brewers on Friday.
With Durbin aiming to solidify his role at the hot corner, here’s what you need to know about the 25-year-old.
Speed, speed, speed
Stolen bases became a defining feature of the Brewers under manager Pat Murphy. In his first year in 2024, Milwaukee ranked second in the MLB with 217 stolen bases, with five players stealing at least 20 bases.
Durbin is set to bring his speed and base-running instincts to Milwaukee. Even before joining the Brewers, he showcased his high-level base-running by breaking the Arizona Fall League record for stolen bases, stealing 29 bases in just 24 games.
His prowess extends beyond the Fall League, with a career total of 113 stolen bases across 294 games in the minors. Adding to his credentials, he delivered a flawless performance during spring training with Milwaukee, going a perfect 10-for-10 in stolen base attempts.
Solid offense to bring to the hot corner
In spring training, Durbin logged more at-bats than any other Brewer, appearing in 18 games and slashing .259/.339/.407 with two home runs and seven RBI over 54 at-bats.
His spring training performance carried into Triple-A this season, where he has posted similar numbers, slashing .278/.316/.481 with two home runs and three RBI across the same number of at-bats.
Durbin’s arrival is a much-needed offensive upgrade for Milwaukee, given the struggles of third base options Vinny Capra and Oliver Dunn, who combined for a .134/.188/.241 batting line with just one home run and nine RBI in 19 games.
Dynamic in the field
While Durbin is expected to take on third base duties, he has showcased his versatility in the minors, playing five positions: second base, third base, shortstop, left field and center field.
Recently, he has primarily been a third baseman, but second base remains a familiar spot for him, playing there twice in his 13 games at Triple-A this season.
Minimal strikeouts
Durbin’s strong plate discipline was a key factor in his call-up decision. Throughout his minor league career, he sustained a strikeout rate of just 10.7% (116 strikeouts in 1,080 plate appearances), a sharp contrast to Milwaukee’s team strikeout rate of 23% this season and the 31.3% rate combined for Dunn and Capra.
While the majors will be a challenge for Durbin, he is clearly a player that Murphy and the Brewers have been closely tracking, with hopes that he can deliver much-needed consistency to the lineup.
