It took some time for Caleb Durbin to grow into the fan favorite the Boston Red Sox expected he would be when they traded for him. He rebounded well after a long adjustment period at the plate and he became a critical offensive contributor during the Sox's best run, but one strange quote really earned Durbin Red Sox Nation's respect: "It's a pinky, it's all good."
Durbin played through a subluxated pinky finger, which at one point pointed in the wrong direction. At the end of the season, he couldn't bend or straighten it all the way, yet, he took the field nearly every day, gave his all and is likely to be granted a Gold Glove award for his efforts. Durbin had his pinky finger surgically repaired earlier this October.
Little did Red Sox fans know, the pinky injury wasn't the only one he played through. Durbin on October 29 underwent his second surgery of the offseason, a “partial excision of the fifth metatarsal base with tendon repair,” according to the Red Sox's press release (per Tim Healey of The Boston Globe) (subscription required). In plainer terms, he needed surgery on his pinky toe, as well.
According to Healey, the Red Sox were aware of Durbin's foot injury. Craig Breslow told reporters that Durbin and the Red Sox knew how to manage the third baseman's symptoms and he was determined to play through the issue.
Caleb Durbin underwent second offseason surgery to fix foot injury he played through all Red Sox season
Playing through pain is never a goal, but Durbin's ability to do so speaks to the kind of player he is. Durbin's dirt dog, gutsy mentality became motivation for the Red Sox and it helped endear him to Boston fans. Durbin finished the season with a .248/.332/.378 slash line, 25 doubles, a triple and 13 home runs over 153 games — the numbers don't jump off the page, but in the context of his season with the early slump and the injuries he played through, he had quite an impressive year.
Durbin's injuries eventually began slowing him down. He batted just .217/.365/.304 over 22 games in September and didn't log a hit in either of the Sox's two Wild Card games. But he still played as often as Chad Tracy would allow and maintained his excellent defense all season.
With any luck, Durbin will have a healthier 2027 (if baseball is played at all). But even if he doesn't, he's proven to the Red Sox that he can play through a lot, and he'll do so well.
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