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Red Sox trade addition’s position still up in air, will play second base in Grapefruit League game soon
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- Red Sox trade addition’s position still up in air, will play second base in Grapefruit League game soon
FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Red Sox have not yet decided on whether Caleb Durbin will be their starting second baseman or third baseman this season.
He has worked out mostly at third base during team workouts here in camp. He’ll start at third base Tuesday against the Pirates after starting there in his first Grapefruit League game Sunday.
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That said, Cora plans to get him into a Grapefruit League game at second base either Thursday or in the coming days.
When Cora was asked when he wants to decide on Durbin’s position, he replied, “The sooner the better.”
Marcelo Mayer — who’s competing for the other starting infield position (third or second depending on where Durbin plays) — will appear in a Grapefruit League game for the first time Friday.
Boston acquired Durbin in a six-player trade with the Brewers on Feb. 9. He had five defensive runs saved in 1,060 ⅔ innings at third base as a rookie last season. He had minus-1 defensive runs saved in a much more limited 43 ⅓ innings at second base.
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He made more starts at second base (150) than at third base (73) in the minors.
“Great footwork,” Cora said about Durbin last week . “He did a good job last year with the Brewers. We expect the same thing.
“Short guy, lower to the ground,” Cora added. “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.”
Durbin was a standout wrestler in high school at Lake Forest High in Lake Forest, Illinois.
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