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Red Sox’ Alex Cora says new infielder’s ‘wrestling background’ helps make him plus defender
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- Red Sox’ Alex Cora says new infielder’s ‘wrestling background’ helps make him plus defender
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Caleb Durbin has mainly played third base during team workouts here at Red Sox spring training camp.
But he is expected to get some work at second base Thursday, manager Alex Cora said.
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Boston acquired Durbin in a six-player trade with the Brewers on Feb. 9.
The Sox have yet to decide whether he will start at third base or second base this season. Durbin is expected to play third base in a Grapefruit League game vs. the Blue Jays on Sunday at JetBlue Park.
Durbin, who will turn 26 on Feb. 22, had five defensive runs saved in 1,060 ⅔ innings at third base as a rookie last season. He had negative-1 defensive runs saved in a much more limited 43 ⅓-inning sample size at second base.
He made more starts at second base (150) than at third base (73) in the minors.
"Great footwork," Cora said. "He did a good job last year with the Brewers. We expect the same thing."
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Durbin was a standout wrestler in high school at Lake Forest High in Lake Forest, Illinois.
"Short guy, lower to the ground," Cora said. "I got some people that work for the Brewers. They say that when he goes down on the ground, he comes up very quick. I know it's his wrestling background. He used to wrestle. So he's a great athlete."
The Red Sox built their roster around starting pitching this past offseason. They acquired Sonny Gray in a trade with the Cardinals, signed Ranger Suárez to a five-year, $130 million deal and traded for Johan Oviedo from the Pirates.
With such a focus on pitching, defense is equally important. The Red Sox feel they added two plus defenders in Durbin and first baseman Willson Contreras .
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Boston acquired Contreras in a trade with St. Louis on Dec. 21 . He finished in the 91st percentile in outs above average (6) among MLB first basemen last year.
"Defensively impressive," Cora said about Contreras. "Stays low to the ground. Good hands. Good footwork. ... He's a good athlete. He did a good job last year with the Cardinals and we just have to help him to keep getting better. But he plays low to the ground. Good athlete. Good hand-eye coordination. Good arm, too. And he plays hard."
Other spring training notes:
~ Masataka Yoshida will leave earlier than everyone else for the World Baseball Classic. So he will play in Boston's Grapefruit League games Saturday and Sunday.
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~ Romy Gonzalez, who had a PRP injection for shoulder inflammation , has still not participated in team drills.
~ Red Sox prospect Tyler Uberstine will start Friday against Northeastern . Wyatt Olds, Noah Song and Jeremy Wu-Yelland also are scheduled to pitch against the Huskies.
~ Right fielder Wilyer Abreu is expected to play left field for Venezuela in the WBC. Ronald Acuña Jr. will play right field.
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