Over the last three seasons, the Boston Red Sox have had a revolving door of third basemen. Two years ago, Boston entered the season with homegrown slugger Rafael Devers, and last season it was all-star third baseman Alex Bregman. While both of these players may be higher-profile and more decorated, there is no question that Caleb Durbin is the perfect third baseman for this season's Boston Red Sox.
Caleb Durbin's ability to bounce back mirrors the Red Sox' season
After being acquired in an offseason trade from the Milwaukee Brewers, the 26-year-old needed time to adjust. For the first two-plus months of the season, Durbin was an automatic out, hitting .183 through 165 AB.
Then, in June, something clicked. In 86 AB, Durbin hit .326 and hit six home runs, up from one over the prior two-plus months. This hot streak has since continued for Durbin, as he has hit .302 after his torrid March - May stretch.
While Durbin has personally flipped his season, the team as a whole has as well, with a 44-26 record, which includes a well-documented 15-game winning streak that tied the franchise record.
Caleb Durbin has that "dawg" mentality
Not only was Durbin able to withstand a prolonged spell at the beginning of the season, but he also plays every game like it's his last. Boston fans have seen a similar player before in Dustin Pedroia. And while it's way too soon to compare Durbin to the former AL MVP and Red Sox Hall of Famer, the Fenway Faithful appreciates players with that edge.
The Illinois native has also proven to play through injury this season. After suffering a brutal pinky injury during a game against the Colorado Rockies on June 24th, he has yet to miss any time on the injured list. What makes it even more impressive is that he has re-aggravated that pinky since then and continues to excel.
After his walk-off hit in the 13th inning against the Chicago White Sox on August 6th, Durbin was asked about the injury by NESN's Jahmai Webster. He responded by saying, "It's a pinky. It's all good."
Durbin exemplifies what the 2026 Red Sox are this season. It could have been easy for him, in his first year in Boston after a nightmare start, to throw in the towel. And after his pinky injury, it would have been easy, and maybe better for his health, to spend some time on the injured list. But instead, he and the team as a whole have done a complete 180 and have the surging Red Sox primed for another postseason appearance this October.
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