BALTIMORE — Caleb Durbin is expected to play again this season after fracturing his wrist, but Yankees vice president of player development Kevin Reese said that the prospect’s return to game action is not imminent.
“It’s gonna be weeks, not days,” Reese told the Daily News. “But hopefully weeks, not months.”
Durbin, a versatile infielder who can also play some outfield, has not appeared in a game since taking a pitch to his right wrist on May 23. He’s on the 60-day injured list at Triple-A.
Yankees prospect Caleb Durbin seemingly got hit on the wrist while leading off the second game of Triple-A Scranton’s doubleheader. He ran the bases but was pulled in the second. Looked painful. pic.twitter.com/1iXhJzvBXk
— Pinstripe Alley (@pinstripealley) May 24, 2024
The Yankees didn’t disclose many details of Durbin’s injury for a bit, but Reese said that he didn’t think the 24-year-old underwent surgery.
“I think he just had a cast for a while,” Reese said. “He’s been progressing pretty well. He’s pushing us a little more than we’re having to push him.”
Reese added that that’s par for the course for Durbin, who went from a product of Division III Washington University in St. Louis to a legitimate prospect after the Yankees acquired him and Indigo Diaz from the Braves for Lucas Luetge in December 2022.
“Everybody loves the grinders,” Reese said. “The day Durbin walked in, that was a great trade for us. You saw him walk into our spring training complex and we’re like, ‘Who’s this guy?’ And then you watch him work, whether it’s defensively, on the bases or in the batting cage, and you see why he’s progressed the way he has.”
Durbin has demonstrated strong contact skills since becoming a Yankee, hitting .304/.395/.427 with four home runs, 25 RBI and 36 stolen bases over 69 games between High-A and Double-A last season. He had a 4.6 K% at Double-A before going on to hit .353/.456/.588 with three homers, 12 RBI and 21 stolen bases over 23 games in the Arizona Fall League.
This year, Durbin impressed people through the Yankees’ organization in spring training before slashing .299/.413/.458 with 17 doubles, three home runs, 36 RBI, 20 stolen bases, 30 walks and 21 strikeouts over 47 Triple-A games prior to his injury.
“He has really improved his ability to impact the ball over the last year, but also did that while even lowering his miss rate, which is already elite,” Yankees assistant hitting coach Casey Dykes said in camp. “So the fact that he was able to impact the ball more and drive the ball more but didn’t give up anything on his contact rate — it actually got better — was really impressive for him.”
Meanwhile, Aaron Boone and Brad Ausmus touted Durbin’s speed and style of play.
“I don’t want to say it’s a hair on fire style, but he’s playing hard all the time,” the bench coach said.
Added the manager: “I think he’s gonna be a player for a long time. I feel like he’s a winning player. Whether we see him at some point this year, I don’t know, but I do feel like he’s got a bright, big league future.”
Durbin’s injury may have hurt his chances of debuting this season, but the unranked prospect has entered the discussion surrounding the Yankees’ future at second base.
With Gleyber Torres an impending free agent, Durbin and fellow farmhand Jorbit Vivas are internal candidates to take over, though what the Yankees do before the trade deadline could influence their plans at second.
However, Durbin also has experience playing third, short, center and left, leaving the door open for other roles.
“He made a good impact in spring training,” Reese said. “The major league staff liked him a lot when he was up there, and he continued to play well in Triple-A. He has the ability to move around a little bit, which I think makes him a little more appealing to our staff here. But he has the potential to be an everyday player at second base in the big leagues when the time comes.”
