Caleb Durbin is an underdog’s underdog in a corporation that boasts big-time star energy. Acquired together with Indigo Diaz by the New York Yankees from the Atlanta Braves final December in alternate for Lucas Luetge the 23-year-old infield prospect is a former 14th spherical draft select of a Division-3 faculty. Moreover, he’s by no means going to be mistaken for Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton. Listed at 5-foot-6 (he claimed to be an inch taller once I talked to him earlier this week), Durbin seems like a stockier model of Jose Altuve.
He’s at present hitting not not like the diminutive three-time batting champion. In 112 plate appearances — 97 with High-A Hudson Valley and 15 with Double-A Somerset — Durbin went into yesterday slashing .319/.446/.385. His bat-to-ball abilities have been spectacular. The Lake Forest, Illinois native has fanned simply 9 instances whereas drawing 15 walks.
Durbin’s numbers at St. Louis’s Washington University had been much more eye-opening. With the caveat that D-3 isn’t precisely the SEC, the erstwhile WashU Bear batted .386 with 42 walks and 10 strikeouts in 439 plate appearances over his three collegiate seasons. Since getting into professional ball in 2021, he has 70 walks and 62 strikeouts in 631 plate appearances.
“Low strikeout rates are something I’ve always had,” mentioned Durbin. “That’s kind of been my elite tool, if you want to call it that. I feel like that’s always going to be there, so it’s just a matter of building on my contact quality.”
Hitting balls tougher has been his main focus this season, and because the numbers counsel, he’s been doing simply that. Swing choices and mechanical changes have every performed a task. Not going after pitches which can be tough to barrel “decreases the amount of times the contact quality isn’t as good,” and the right-handed swinger is “launching more from [his] back hip and having [his] hands ready at the release of the pitch.”
But once more, he’s no Judge or Stanton, neither is he more likely to strategy Altuve’s surprising-for-his-size energy manufacturing. Knocking down fences won’t ever be a part of his modus operandi. While Durbin did go deep eight instances final yr between two A-ball stops, he’s sans a dinger within the present marketing campaign.
Power-projection apart, Durbin has obtained his justifiable share of Altuve comps over time. Ditto Dustin Pedroia comps — “I heard that one a lot growing up” — and he’s not averse to likening his recreation to similarly-undersized gamers. He cited Nick Madrigal and Steven Kwan as contact-oriented hitters whose profiles usually are not not like his personal.(A very good comp Durbin will not be accustomed to is Stubby Clapp, who was generously listed at 5-foot-8 and had a cup of espresso with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2001.)
Pedroia particularly had a chip on his shoulder that helped drive his success. Durbin doesn’t possess the identical diploma of edginess that the erstwhile Red Sox infielder delivered to the sector each day, however he nonetheless strives to dispel any notion that he’s too small to excel towards high-level competitors.
“Coming out of a D-3 school and being my size, there’s definitely a part of me wanting to prove to people that I can play ball,” mentioned Durbin. “There’s definitely that fire inside of me.”
The skeptics stretch again to his days as a Chicago-area prep. Despite a record-setting highschool profession — he was additionally an completed wrestler — faculty packages confirmed little or no curiosity. Durbin reached out to quite a few Division-1 colleges, and what he heard again was crickets. “I guess I just didn’t have the tools,” Durbin instructed me — this on the heels of a Double-A debut that noticed him stroke three hits and swipe the identical variety of bases.
The Braves had been the one crew that confirmed critical curiosity throughout his draft yr at Washington University. Atlanta’s space scout initially handed alongside that they had been him between rounds 15 and 20, and some days earlier than the draft he circled again to say rounds 10 and 15. More than different organizations, they noticed potential that belied his undersized body.
As Durbin got here to study, one other crew was additionally intrigued by his potential. Driving residence from his offseason exercise facility, just a few days earlier than the calendar flipped to 2023, he bought a name that “came out of nowhere.” When he reported to spring coaching, it wouldn’t be with the Braves, however fairly with the New York Yankees.
Six weeks into the minor-league season, Durbin’s efficiency together with his new group — one that features 19 stolen bases in 21 makes an attempt — has been nothing in need of spectacular. As for whether or not he can stick with it, let’s simply say he’s used to individuals doubting his means. When you’re 5-foot-6 (give or take an inch both course) it comes with the territory.
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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Pat Rockett went 4 for 7 towards Mark Lemongello.
Wally Moon went 4 for 7 towards Vito Valentinetti.
Eddie Murray went 7 for 13 towards Jack Armstrong.
Bake McBride went 7 for 15 towards Bill “Spaceman” Lee.
Dick McAuliffe went 7 for 19 towards Eli Grba.
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James Naile is exclusive. A 30-year-old right-hander who spent seven years within the Oakland Athletics system earlier than signing with the St. Louis Cardinals previous to final season, he incorporates a high-spin curveball and a sinker that hardly spins in any respect. The former averages over 2,700 RPMs and has reached 3,000, whereas the latter hovers round 1,600 RPMs and has dipped a lot decrease. Per Statcast, Naile — this in a small pattern measurement 11-and-a-third big-league innings — ranks within the first percentile for fastball spin.
I requested the Cape Girardeau, Missouri native when he discovered about his atypical spins profiles.
“Early on in pro ball,” replied Naile, whom the A’s took within the twentieth spherical of the 2015 draft out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “In college, I had no idea. I’d developed a one-seam sinker early on, and once I got to pro ball, I transitioned to a more traditional two-seam. But yeah, they were kind of telling me, ‘Man, your spin rate is insanely low; it’s kind of like a changeup, or almost like a split.’ I’ve thrown fastballs with spin rates below 1,200, so I’m definitely a little unique. I don’t know how I do it.”
Naile likewise doesn’t have a solution for why he spins his curveball in addition to he does. It’s a pitch he’s had since highschool, though he has begun tweaking the form this yr, “chasing a little more horizontal” and making it extra like a sweeper. If something, the spin has ticked up barely with the elevated right-to-left motion.
Naile has additionally chased vertical, this together with his low-spin four-seamer, a pitch he not often throws. The outcomes had been negligible. Curious as to what is perhaps doable, he even experimented with pine tar just a few off-seasons in the past. Again, the outcomes had been nothing to jot down residence about. As the righty put it, “For whatever reason, I’ve just never been able to spin a fastball.”
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A quiz:
The single-season report for shutouts is held by Pete Alexander, who had 16 with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1916. The highest single-season complete since that point is held by which pitcher?
The reply may be discovered beneath.
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NEWS NOTES
Ozzie Guillen has been added as a featured speaker at this summer time’s nationwide SABR conference, which will likely be held from July 5-9 in Chicago. More info may be discovered right here.
Larry Foster, a right-handed pitcher who appeared in a single recreation for the Detroit Tigers in 1963, died earlier this month at age 85. The Michigan State University product allowed three runs over two reduction innings in a 10-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins.
Grover “Deacon” Jones, a primary baseman who appeared in 40 video games and logged 14 hits in 49 at bats for the Chicago White Sox from 1962-1966, died on May 7 at age 89. The Ithaca College alum was a scout, coach, and minor-league supervisor following his taking part in profession.
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The reply to the quiz is Bob Gibson, with 13 shutouts in 1968.
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Much as pitchers bear in mind their first strikeout and first win, in addition they bear in mind their first gopher. I most circumstances, in addition they recall their second. For Mark Gubicza, the names make these reminiscences simple.
“The first one was Darrell Evans, at Tiger Stadium,” Gubicza mentioned of the May 7, 1984 blast, which got here when he was a 21-year-old rookie with the Kansas City Royals. “I remember thinking I could get inside on him, but he had a quick bat and got me pretty good. He hit it out to right-center field. And it’s funny, because then Dwight Evans got me [at Fenway Park a few weeks later]. It went over the Green Monster. I remember thinking, ‘What, am I just going to just give up home runs to Evans’s?’”
Darrell Evans was in his sixteenth big-league season when he took the rookie deep, whereas Dwight Evans was in his thirteenth big-league season. To say that Gubicza had been accustomed to each could be an understatement.
“As a baseball fan growing up, I had their Slurpee cups, and their baseball cards in the spokes of my bicycle,” mentioned Gubicza. “All of that stuff. It was pretty cool to be able to face them, and I did end up having some success against both guys.”
Dwight went 11-for-53 with three residence runs towards Gubicza. Darrell went 5-for-24, additionally with three residence runs.
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FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Munetaka Murakami is slashing .218/.365/.412 with six residence runs in 148 plate appearances for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. The 23-year-old third baseman dominated NPB final yr with 56 residence runs and a .318/.458/.711 slash line.
Shoki Murakami has pitched in 5 video games and allowed simply 10 hits and one run in 32 innings with the Hanshin Tigers. The 24-year-old right-hander has fanned 31 batters and issued two free passes.
Shunpeita Yamashita has pitched in 4 video games and allowed 15 hits and one run in 24-and-a-third innings with the Orix Buffaloes. The 20-year-old right-hander has fanned 33 and walked seven.
Dillon Peters is 1-0 with a 1.61 ERA in 13-and-two thirds innings for the Yakult Swallows. The 30-year-old left-hander is in his first NPB season after spending the final two years with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Si-hwan Roh is slashing .352/.423/.598 in 137 plate appearances with the KBO’s Hanwha Eagles. The 22-year-old third baseman has seven residence runs.
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Chih-Jung Liu is rising as a prospect of word within the Red Sox system. Signed by Boston as a global free agent in October 2019 out of Tainan City, Taiwan, the 24-year-old right-hander went 11 consecutive innings with out permitting a success over his final two begins. The first of these outings was particularly notable. On May 5, Liu threw a seven-inning no-hitter for the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs towards the Akron RubberDucks. On the yr, he has a 3.60 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 30 innings.
His development as a pitcher has been each regular and uneven. A two-way participant rising up in Taiwan — he was additionally a shortstop — Liu didn’t study the nuances of his craft till coming stateside to play professionally.
“Back in high school, I would go out to the bullpen and get my work in maybe twice a week,” defined Liu, with Sea Dogs coach Mickey Jiang offering translation help for a few of his responses. “After I got here, I learned how to be a pitcher, a full-time pitcher. I learned a routine and how to enhance my pitches.”
Liu’s repertoire, which has subsequently undergone adjustments, produced blended outcomes previous to this season. After the pandemic worn out what would have been his debut marketing campaign, he went a mixed 9-12 with a 5.42 ERA in 2021-2022. Last yr was notably tumultuous. Pitching primarily at High-A Greenville, he went 4-11 with a 6.10 ERA.
Pitch-design periods resulted in a significant repertoire tweak within the latter months of final season. Liu started throwing a sweeper — a child sweeper if you’ll — that sometimes will get 8-10 inches of horizontal motion. He considers it his second-best pitch, behind a mid-90s four-seam fastball that will get experience. A standard slider is not a part of his arsenal, neither is a curveball.
Another notable tweak has been the reintroduction of a splitter, which he threw throughout his highschool and faculty days in Taiwan. The Red Sox had him swap to a standard changeup when he joined the group, however this yr they reversed course and determined he ought to return throwing a break up, a pitch the right-hander instructed me is common in his homeland. Liu’s four-pitch combine additionally features a cutter.
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FARM NOTES
The Norfolk Tides have the perfect report within the minors; Baltimore’s Triple-A affiliate is 28-9. The Stockton Ports have the worst report within the minors. Oakland’s Low-A affiliate is 7-25.
Matt McLain is slashing .346/.457/.714 with 12 residence runs in 162 plate appearances for the Triple-A Louisville Bats. The 23-year-old infielder was drafted seventeenth general in 2021 by the Cincinnati Reds out of UCLA.
Heston Kjerstad is slashing .300/.384/.645 with 9 residence runs in 125 plate appearances for the Double-A Bowie BaySox. The 24-year-old outfielder was drafted second general in 2020 by the Baltimore Orioles out of the University of Arkansas.
Sterlin Thompson is slashing .463/.513/.746 with three residence runs in 78 plate appearances for the High-A Spokane Indians. The 21-year-old outfielder/third baseman was drafted thirty first general final yr by the Colorado Rockies out of the University of Florida.
Brandon Birdsell has a 0.73 ERA and a 3.15 FIP in six appearances comprising 24-and-two-thirds innings for the High-A South Bend Cubs. The 23-year-old right-hander was drafted within the fifth spherical final yr out of Texas Tech University by the Chicago Cubs.
Nick Frasso has a 1.01 ERA and a 2.03 FIP in six appearances comprising 26-and-two-thirds innings for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers. Taken within the fourth spherical of the 2020 draft out of Loyola Marymount University, the 24 year-old right-hander was acquired by the Los Angeles Dodgers final August through commerce.
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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
Benjamin Hoffman wrote about Luis Arraez — “baseball’s most unusual hitter” — for The New York Times.
Sandy Alcantara welcomed 20-year-old pitching protégé Eury Perez to Miami, and José de Jesus Ortiz instructed us about it at Our Esquina.
Catchers Eric Haase and Jake Rogers have been stabilizing forces for the Detroit Tigers throughout a turbulent first six weeks of the season. Brandon Day defined how at Bless You Boys.
Hindsight being 20/20, MLB.com’s Jim Callis did a redraft of the 2013 MLB draft.
Also at MLB.com, Michael Clair wrote about the lengthy, unusual historical past of the baseball cap.
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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
The Pittsburgh Pirates have 49 stolen bases, essentially the most within the majors. The Minnesota Twins have 10 stolen bases, the fewest within the majors.
Jose Abreu has homered as soon as since August 3 of final yr, that approaching September 13. The 36-year-old first baseman has 271 plate appearances over that span.
Jim Edmonds went 7-for-14 towards three totally different pitchers — Josh Beckett, Dave Bush, and Nelson Figueroa — with 20 of the 21 hits going for additional bases. Edmonds had a mixed 11 doubles, eight residence runs, one triple, and one single towards the trio. He had 4 residence runs and three doubles off of Bush.
Ron Taylor made the final of his 491 big-league pitching appearances on at this time’s date in 1972, working an inning-and-two-thirds for the San Diego Padres in a nondescript 9-3 loss to the Montreal Expos. His MLB debut, which got here on April 11, 1962, was something however nondescript. On the mound for the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park, Taylor incurred a complete-game, 4-0 loss when he surrendered a Twelfth-inning grand slam to Red Sox outfielder Carroll Hardy, who’s greatest generally known as the one participant ever to pinch hit for Ted Williams. Taylor had two hits on the day, together with the one one Boston starter Bill Monbouquette allowed over the primary 9 innings.
On at this time’s date in 1977, Jim Colborn tossed a no-hitter because the Kansas City Royals topped the Texas Rangers 6-0. Steve Busby (2) and Bret Saberhagen are the one different Royals pitchers to throw a no-hitter.
On at this time’s date in 1927, the Chicago Cubs scored 5 instances within the prime of the 18th inning to beat the Boston Braves 7-2. Guy Bush went the space for the win.
The Atlanta Braves scored twice within the prime of the nineteenth inning to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-5 on at this time’s date in 1988. Infielder José Oquendo pitched 4 innings and was tagged with the loss.
Players born on at this time’s date embrace Wimpy Quinn, whose big-league profession comprised three reduction appearances comprising 5 innings for the Chicago Cubs in 1941. Primarily a primary baseman within the minors — he homered 27 instances for the Western International League’s Vancouver Capilanos in 1940 — Quinn had one hit in two at-bats as a Cub.
Also born on at this time’s date was Kevin Melillo, who performed in a single recreation for the Oakland Athletics in 2007. Melillo walked as a pinch-hitter in his lone big-league plate look.
Content Source: blogs.fangraphs.com