Caleb Durbin’s hot streak could turn Red Sox trade mistake into needed franchise win
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Caleb Durbin’s hot streak could turn Red Sox trade mistake into needed franchise win originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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The Boston Red Sox finally got a win last night after getting swept at home, and the team looks like it could finally turn it around.
Most of it is thanks to their few core hitters who have been good all season, and their starting pitching. However, one guy is finally breaking through for Boston, someone who has been counted out since the beginning of the season: Caleb Durbin
Durbin started getting warm a while ago
© David Butler II-Imagn Images
Just a month ago, Durbin was looking like a trade failure for Boston’s Chief Baseball Officer, Craig Breslow. In his first 48 games with Boston, he was hitting .163, had an OPS of .479, and one home run off a position player.
However, something clicked. He started hitting over .350, and was scoring runs for Boston.
This was mostly due in fact to Durbin leaving the Driveline teachings of Boston, which the Red Sox have now parted ways with, and started working with Gradium Gswing. Because of them, Durbin is even better than he was before.
Now Durbin’s red hot
© Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
In his 18 games since working with Gradium, He’s now slashing .292 with four home runs, a whopping .902 OPS, and a wRC+ of 135. All four homers have been in June, and in the past week.
This now brings his season averages to .203/.260/.349/.609, which is way up from where it was before his month of dominance.
Durbin’s actually comparable to Bregman
© Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Sox only acquired Durbin after they called Alex Bregman’s bluff when he said he was going to leave. However, with the Chicago Cubs, Bregman hasn’t been replicating how good he was last year.
In fact, he and Durbin are quite close offensively. Since April 1st, Durbin is slashing .217/.273/.374/.647 with 14 doubles, five homers and 28 RBI. In the same time for Bregman, he’s been slashing .255/.348/.342/.690 with 10 doubles, four homers and 23 RBI.
Even defensively, Durbin isn’t that far behind Bregman, a Gold Glove. Durbin has one OAA and DRS, while Bregman has two of each.
Hopefully, Durbin continues to ramp up his production, and the Red Sox have a franchise third baseman in the making.
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