Caleb Durbin could be a better Alex Bregman replacement than Red Sox thought

The story of the Boston Red Sox's February 26 Grapefruit League game was that Garrett Crochet didn't log a strikeout in his 2026 debut. He pitched two innings and let up a hit and a walk without striking out any Tampa Bay Rays batters — it was the first time he appeared without a strikeout on the box score since he was a reliever with the Chicago White Sox (except for a one-inning start cut short by a rain delay).

Crochet was able to keep runs off the board, though, thanks to the defense behind him. Specifically, he shouted Caleb Durbin out in his postgame interview with NESN .

"It was good, man. Durbin, he's kind of a freak out there," Crochet said. "First time I saw him with his shirt off I was like, 'wow, man, you got some traps on ya.' But he's quick, too — muscley guy but moves well."

Durbin appeared at second base against Tampa and made a few flashy plays behind Crochet. Fans have been particularly impressed with a soft grounder he scooped with his glove to beat the runner at first base. He was also part of a 6-4-3 double play in the first inning.

Caleb Durbin's defensive success makes him a better Alex Bregman replacement than most Red Sox fans expected

Willson Contreras has also already impressed fans defensively, at times with Durbin's help. While he was posted at third base on February 24, Durbin and Contreras fielded a clean inning-ending double play against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Defensive improvement was a priority for the Red Sox over the offseason, as their MLB-leading 116 errors from 2025 cost them a fair few games. A reunion with Alex Bregman was supposed to contribute to better defense, but his free agency didn't go Boston's way.

So far, Durbin has done a great job at making up for that (yes, we know it's still early, but his success is encouraging). His defense at both second and third base has been smooth, and he's delivered offensively, too — he's posted a .804 OPS and three RBI over seven spring training at bats, and he knocked a double against the Rays yesterday.

Durbin is only a sophomore big leaguer this season and he lacks the years of experience Bregman has, but Contreras brings some of that. Both players have been great fits with the Red Sox so far, but Durbin's body of work so far has been reassuring.