The New York Yankees are very secret about their Minor League injury news, so when the Tampa Tarpons formally announced that infielder Caleb Durbin would begin his rehab assignment, it went under the radar. After getting off to a torrid start in Triple-A, the 24-year-old utilityman had been drilled in the hand and would go on the IL for a then undisclosed amount of time. Now, he’ll start ramping up in Single-A, and while he’s not on the 40-man roster, we know the Yankees view him highly and there’s a lot to like in his profile.
Your prototypical scrappy utilityman, Caleb Durbin has the contact, speed, and pull-side power to potentially make a Major League impact as soon as this summer.
Caleb Durbin Begins Rehab Assignment, Yankees Could Have More Infield Depth
Across 47 games, Caleb Durbin slashed .299/..413/.458, showing off some more power while driving the ball to the pull-side more often, especially in the air. His 132 wRC+ and 9.8% strikeout rate are excellent, and Durbin is great at generating contact against both fastballs and secondaries. His high OBP is enticing, but his calling card as a prospect is his defensive abilities and baserunning skills.
He swiped 20 bases in 22 attempts in that limited sample size thanks to his great speed and ability to read pitchers, and that athleticism translates on the defensive side of the ball as well. Caleb Durbin has played 2B, 3B, SS, LF, and CF this season with the Scranton RailRiders, and that kind of versatility could appeal to a contender like the Yankees who are running thin in terms of position player depth.
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The calf injury to Jon Berti has hurt their infield depth chart, and both DJ LeMahieu and Gleyber Torres performing well below their pre-season projections have created a pressing need in the infield. Caleb Durbin may not get the call this season, but he could play a role in their 2025 plans if he gets healthy and finishes his 2024 season strong. Another question that will always arise in July is whether the Yankees would dangle him in a trade or not, especially given how close he is to the Major League level.
Only time will tell how the Yankees utilize Caleb Durbin in the present day and the future, but his return to the baseball diamond is great for the organization.