Top prospect sent to Brewers in Devin Williams trade has a skillset seldom seen in MLB

In one of the offseason's most intriguing trades, the Milwaukee Brewers acquired Nestor Cortes Jr and highly touted prospect Caleb Durbin from the New York Yankees as part of the deal that sent standout closer Devin Williams to New York. Durbin, a 23-year-old infielder, is a player to watch, with a unique skillset that is rarely seen in Major League Baseball today

Durbin's standout ability lies in his rare combination of elite contact skills, impact on the base paths, and defensive versatility. These traits are exactly what helped the Brewers unexpectedly win the National League Central last season, and Durbin could end up being the best at combining all three. This unique skill set should make him an excellent complement to the roster.

Brewers' Caleb Durbin ability to avoid strikeouts is absolutely wild

It's hard to find baseball players who strike out less than they draw a base on balls. Caleb Durbin not only consistently does this, but throughout his career he has done it on an entirely different level. In college, Durbin played three season at Washington University in St.Louis. As a freshman he struck out just five times, a sophomore three times, and a junior just twice. This means he struck out just 10 total times his entire NCAA career that spanned 93 games and 439 plate appearances.

In his first full professional season, Durbin posted an impressive 50 walks and 50 strikeouts. The following year, that ratio improved to 26 walks and just 18 strikeouts. Last season, he continued to excel with 53 walks and 40 strikeouts. What’s particularly impressive is that he maintained this discipline despite facing increased competition, playing 82 games last year at Triple-A.

Caleb Durbin will apply pressure to opposing defenses with his legs for the Brewers

Base stealing and taking the extra base seems to be an underrated part of baseball that is making a comeback and Caleb Durbin is as aggressive as it gets in these categories. While he's gained attention for setting the Arizona Fall League record for stolen bases, it's worth noting that Durbin has swiped more than 30 bags in each of the past three seasons. He achieved this in smaller sample sizes of just 105 games, 69 games, and 90 games in those seasons. This easily gives him 50+ stolen base potential with a full and healthy MLB season.

Defensively, Durbin plays primarily in the infield, but he excels in any position he’s called upon to play. Whether at second base, third base, shortstop, or outfield he’s a sure-handed defender with a strong arm and excellent range. Wherever he plays he is a valuable asset that the Brewers should not be afraid to deploy him anywhere.

While Durbin has no MLB experience, his skill set is a rarity and gives him a good chance at immediately making an impact with the Brewers in 2025. If all falls into place for him, he could quickly establish himself as a key contributor at the big league level.

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