DJ LeMahieu, a Yankees infielder, returns, but Jon Berti and Triple-A’s most impressive performer depart. Our way of living.
After receiving a lot of recent (and well-deserved) plaudits, Yankees infielder (and occasional centre fielder just for fun?) Caleb Durbin suffered his first setback since last summer over the weekend when an inside fastball hammered him brutally on an appendage.
Durbin stayed in the game short (of course) and rounded the bases, but he didn’t get very far. He’s now on his way to the minors’ mysterious “7-day IL,” which might imply he’s either waiting for the swelling in his hand to subside or that it’s already been amputated.
Caleb Durbin, a Yankees infield prospect, is placed on the minor league injured list after suffering a hand injury
At the very least, a hand injury does not have structural implications. Durbin’s recovery may take some time, but once everything is in order, he should be OK. While you never want a developing prospect to lose repetitions, Durbin doesn’t have much else to prove at Triple-A. He’s stealing 20 bags in 47 games, like he usually does. He’s kept up his blistering power pace, hitting 17 doubles, a triple, and three home runs in 177 at-bats, matching 2023’s doubles total in 76 fewer at-bats and 22 less games. He’s hit nearly.300, maintained an OBP above.400, wreaked havoc on the base paths, and float over the field while looking rock solid defensively.
Prior to the injury, people began to notice Durbin’s productivity. As original Durbin Island residents, we’re not surprised by compliments for the Yankees’ hidden gem, but Bill Madden of The Daily News made some impressive assumptions last weekend, writing:
“Torres looks to be easily replaced at second base next year by 5’6 Caleb Durbin, the José Altuve clone who Brian Cashman acquired from the (Atlanta Braves) in December 2022 for Lucas Luetge (remember him?) and has developed into a hitting machine at Triple-A who almost never strikes out.”
Easy to replace, huh? Not just a regular replacement? We see you.
Torres’ future is very much up for grabs, but regrettably, so is Durbin’s present. Durbin is unlikely to find a home in the Yankees until next season, and who knows, maybe this helps keep him hidden from trade deadline scouts for another year. The 24-year-old clearly deserves a chance to contend for a big-league job next year, as seen by the 47 games he’s already played this season.
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