Running circles around AFL, Yankees' Durbin sets all kinds of stolen-base records

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Caleb Durbin made a valiant run at the Arizona Fall League’s single-season stolen base record last year, only to come up three short with 21. He wouldn’t be denied in his return.

The Yankees sent Durbin back to the AFL this year to get more at-bats after he missed two months with a broken right wrist. The infielder has run wild again this fall, setting two standards and tying another Monday night while leading the Salt River Rafters to a 7-1 victory over the Peoria Javelinas.

Durbin led off the bottom of the first inning by getting hit on the elbow by a 92-mph fastball from right-hander Adam Maier (ATL No. 17), then immediately stole second base without drawing a throw from catcher Ethan Salas (SD No. 1/MLB No. 19). That tied a Fall League’s single-season mark of 24 that had stood for three decades. The Phillies' Rick Holifield accomplished the feat in 1994, when the league played a 50-game schedule, compared to the current 30-game slate.

Three pitches later, Durbin claimed the record outright by taking third base, again without a throw. He admitted breaking the single-season record was one of his goals when he found out he was returning to the circuit.

“I give a lot of credit to our first-base coach, [Derek] Woodley with the Yankees,” Durbin said. “He's done a tremendous job just gameplanning for pitchers and that's one of the reasons why I'm here is to keep refining my skills on the basepaths because that's a big part of my game. I think it can be a big part of the game in general, so having that in my toolbelt and coming here and refining it and having those results to show for it, it's huge for me.”

Durbin wasn’t done writing his name in the Fall League record book. He stole second in the second and third in the sixth, marking just the third time a player nabbed four bags in one game since the Fall League began keeping detailed records in 2005. He did so as well on Oct. 25, matching the Astros' Ronnie Dawson’s performance from 2018.

In his two years in the league, Durbin has recorded three three-steal games while swiping 48 bases in 52 attempts (92 percent), for yet another record -- the career AFL mark. He has recorded at least one steal in 28 of his 45 games.

Durbin has stolen 67 bases in 79 attempts in the Minors the past two seasons since New York acquired him from the Braves in a December 2022 trade for Lucas Luetge. He’s not a burner who relies on blazing speed, however. He’s an above-average runner who has studied the craft of basestealing.

“I think it's a testament to my preparation and picking my spots,” Durbin said. “I think a lot more of baserunning is more instincts than it really is speed. I think if you have enough speed, it helps, and I feel like I have enough speed.

“It’s more of just knowing what the pitcher is doing, what the catcher is doing, what the middle infielders are doing. All that goes into me feeling confident that I could steal a base.”

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Durbin has exceeded expectations since Atlanta drafted him in the 14th round in 2022 out of NCAA Division III Washington (St. Louis). He controls the strike zone while making consistent line-drive contact and hit a career-high 10 homers while slashing .287/.388/.451 in 82 Triple-A games this season. He’s also a versatile defender who has started games at second base, third base, shortstop, left field and center field in both Triple-A and the AFL in 2024.

Making Durbin’s day even better, Yankees manager Aaron Boone lavished him with praise while conducting a Zoom call earlier with reporters.

“I think he’s a stud, frankly," Boone said. “Great bat-to-ball, elite ability on the bases as a basestealer, good defender in the middle of the diamond at second base. ... Really competitive, a hard-nosed, tough player. I’m excited about him and I think he’s going to play a big role for us this upcoming season.”

Durbin didn’t hear Boone’s comments until after the game and broke into a grin when he learned of them.

“I had really good interactions with Boonie in Spring Training,” Durbin said. “So honestly, my time with him in the spring and in big league camp gave me a lot of confidence throughout the year. Having that kind of experience is something I'm still leaning on now.

“Just hearing that makes me excited to come back next year. I'm still finishing up this season, but I'm already looking forward to Spring Training. That's pretty cool.”