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Red Sox INF Caleb Durbin isn’t sure where he’s going to play – and doesn’t much care
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- Red Sox INF Caleb Durbin isn’t sure where he’s going to play – and doesn’t much care
FORT MYERS, Fla. – It’s been a spring of change for Caleb Durbin .
Days after arriving at spring training with the Milwaukee Brewers , he learned that he had been traded to the Red Sox , forcing him to pack up and move from Arizona to Florida.
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After he arrived, the Red Sox made clear they were unsure where Durbin would fit in their infield. In his rookie season with Milwaukee, Durbin played third almost exclusively, but in his minor league career, he’s spent a lot of time at second.
A month later, uncertainty surrounds the Sox’ plans for Durbin. On Saturday, in a rain-shortened 2-0 Red Sox win over the Tampa Bay Rays , he manned second with Marcelo Mayer at third. On Monday, when the Sox have their next home game, the two will swap positions again.
Alex Cora promises a decision on the infield alignment is coming, likely by he end of the week. But Durbin’s not exactly holding his breath.
“They do a good job in the minor leagues,” said Durbin, “just mixing us around throughout the season and preparing us to be as versatile as possible and that’s just kind of what I’m used to, especially during spring training. From a positive side, it’s nothing really new; I’ve kind of been through it before.”
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Asked to compare the two positions, Durbin took a simplistic approach.
“At the end of the day, you’ve got to throw it to first and try to beat the runner,” he said. “But third base, learning it more last year, you have to comfortable with one hand and really using your feet over there. It’s less rangy, but your first step is super important because you’re closer to home plate. All those things are a little bit different.
“Luckily, I have a lot of experience playing at second base most of my life and I have a whole season last year, playing at third. So, I have some built-in instincts that I’ve been able to develop and allows me to be comfortable at both spots.”
Half the infield is set. Willson Contreras will man first and Trevor Story will return to short. It’s assumed, especially with Romy Gonzalez potentially set to undergo surgery on his left shoulder, that Durbin will play either second or third, with Mayer playing the other.
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Durbin has played enough second this spring to get acclimated to Story as a double play partner.
“I think game reps go a long way,” said Durbin. “We’re next to one another all the time, starting with early work and then just being out there together in games, communicating with each other. Obviously, we’ll get more into actual positioning as the spring goes on. But we’re more and more comfortable with each game.”
Durbin will need to get familiar with Story even if ends up at third, to know who will take charge on balls hit into hole.
“There was one grounder hit the other day,” recounted Durbin, “and it was a little bit slower hit, right in between us (at third and short) and it was one of those where I might get it and throw on the run, or even dive for it, and I kind of held back and he played it with his backhand.
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“That was one we talked through later on in the dugout, just clarifying. We’re always going over different plays like that, whether I’m at third or second and he’s doing the same thing with Marcelo. And he’s doing the same thing with Marcelo. We’re just trying to build as cohesive a unit as we can.”
Asked which of the two positions he plays best, Durbin equivocated some.
“I have high standards at both for myself,” he said. “I know I’m comfortable at both spots. Honestly, wherever I’m playing that day, I want to be making plays for my pitcher. That’s kind of the way I look at it.”
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