The Milwaukee Brewers made the recent decision to demote struggling third baseman Oliver Dunn to Triple-A Nashville. After making the Opening Day roster, Dunn provided Milwaukee with great defense at the hot corner, something in which the team takes immense pride. Unfortunately, he did not provide much in the way of offensive production.
Through 14 games this season, Dunn is hitting .167/.205/.222 with six RBI. As a left-handed hitter, he received the majority of the starts, which he split with the right-handed hitting Vinny Capra. Frustratingly, Capra is not producing either. In 13 games this season, he is hitting a woeful .097/.125/.194 with a home run and three RBI.
But of the two, Dunn is the only one with minor league options remaining. When/if Milwaukee decides Capra is not cutting it well enough to remain on the Big League roster, they will have to designate him for assignment.
The Milwaukee Brewers Called Up Caleb Durbin
Early in the MLB offseason, the Brewers traded two-time All-Star closer Devin Williams to the New York Yankees for left-handed starting pitcher Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin.
While the plan was for Cortes to be a part of Milwaukee’s starting rotation this season, he was not the main player that the Brewers were interested in acquiring. Like Williams, he is in his final year of arbitration and will be a free agent at the end of the season.
It was Durbin that the Brewers were really interested in, and it is easy to see why. In five minor league seasons, he has drawn 137 walks. What makes this number impressive is that, by contrast, he has struck out 116 times.
Prior to being traded to Milwaukee, Durbin played in the Arizona Fall League, and set the single-season record for stolen bases with 29. That league has a 24-game season.
In other words, Durbin gets on base and, once there, is a threat to steal. That is just the kind of player that manager Pat Murphy loves.
Pat Murphy Says Caleb Durbin Will Be the Everyday Third Baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers
After being one of the final players reassigned to minor league camp during Spring Training, Durbin was sent to the Nashville Sounds. In 13 games there this season, he has hit .278/.316/.482 with two home runs, three RBI, and three stolen bases.
Obviously, that is much better production than either Dunn or Capra have been able to provide. Additionally, since Durbin is a switch-hitter, Murphy does not have to worry about a platoon.
Per Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Durbin, who is making his Major League debut on Friday night against the Athletics, will get the bulk of playing time at third base going forward:
Pat Murphy says Caleb Durbin will be the Brewers’ regular third baseman for the foreseeable future.
— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) April 18, 2025
Hopefully the speedy Durbin can provide a spark on Milwaukee’s offense. The Brewers were worried about the quality of defense he could provide at third base, but have been happy with what they have seen from him in that area down in Nashville.
And now, he is getting his chance to prove himself.
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