The Boston Red Sox are shaking up their infield strategy for the first time this spring, and it's all about where two promising young talents, Marcelo Mayer and Caleb Durbin, will ultimately fit.
For a while now, the buzz in Red Sox spring training has centered on the dynamic duo of Marcelo Mayer and Caleb Durbin and their potential positions. Up until now, workouts have seen Durbin taking reps at third base and Mayer at second. However, a significant shift is on the horizon! According to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic, Durbin is slated to play second base, with Mayer moving over to third base this Friday during workouts on the backfields. While the Red Sox have an exhibition game against Northeastern on Friday, neither Durbin nor Mayer will be in the starting lineup for that contest.
But here's where it gets interesting... It was largely anticipated that Durbin and Mayer would swap positions at some point. The Red Sox brass wants to get a thorough look at both players at both second and third base before making any final decisions about their everyday infield alignment. This Friday marks the very first opportunity to see Durbin at second base, which is actually the position he originally played coming up through the minor leagues.
Caleb Durbin himself shared his perspective, stating on Thursday, "I’m used to second, I moved around every spring training, I’ve been a guy that, I’m not going to be pigeonholed into one spot in spring. I’m going to move around, just to give myself and the team some flexibility, I’m sure. I definitely anticipate playing a decent amount of second, a lot of third, wouldn’t be surprised if I had some games at short, but just trying to stay flexible."
Looking at their professional experience, Durbin has made three starts at second base in Major League Baseball and 119 starts at third base. However, his minor league track record shows a substantial 150 starts at second base, suggesting he should be quite comfortable at either position. Marcelo Mayer's situation is similarly flexible.
Mayer, on the other hand, had a relatively limited six starts at third base in the minor leagues. He was notably called upon to play third base when Alex Bregman experienced an injury, and he performed admirably, even posting a plus-two outs above average at the hot corner in the big leagues. With over 200 starts at shortstop in his minor league career, the transition to second base is expected to be a smooth one for him.
And this is the part most people miss... Consider the case of Brice Turang, Durbin's former teammate. Turang successfully transitioned from shortstop in the minor leagues to second base in MLB and went on to win a Platinum Glove. This highlights the potential benefit of having a natural shortstop like Mayer at second base, which could significantly bolster the Red Sox defense.
This strategic infield shuffling raises a fascinating question: Is prioritizing defensive versatility and player development in spring training the best approach for long-term team success, or should the Red Sox be solidifying their infield alignment sooner rather than later? What are your thoughts on this infield puzzle? Let us know in the comments below!
