A left pinky subluxation and a heavily delayed flight from Denver didn’t keep Caleb Durbin out. The injury fixed itself naturally before X-rays, and after a late-night arrival, the Red Sox were able to put him back in the lineup for Thursday’s start of a four-
Boston — The day started with a left pinky subluxation, a partial dislocation that delayed how the Red Sox could plan Thursday night. Then came the travel part: a heavily delayed flight from Denver that got the team home in the wee hours of the morning.
For Caleb Durbin, the combination looked like the kind of situation that could quickly turn into a day off.
Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy didn’t hide how closely they were watching the injury timeline after Durbin’s scare the day before. “I’m proud of that kid, man. I think he was sitting in the postgame [clubhouse] and said he was more disappointed that they couldn’t get it back in right away. and [he could] go back in the field. ” Tracy said. “But they were able to get it back in. and all things considered. it was a little sore and he said he was ready to go. So we dodged a bullet there. And you worry about when that happens — is there a break in there?”.
In the end, the trainers didn’t even have to pop the finger back into place.
Durbin said the injury corrected itself naturally after he took his glove off. “I assume so. because I looked at it originally and it wasn’t straight. and then when I went to do the X-rays after the glove came off. it was straight. ” Durbin said. “I didn’t want to look at it, but when I took the glove off, it straightened up.”.
The timing mattered for Boston because Durbin has become a major difference-maker at the plate over the last few weeks. Over his last 23 games and 87 plate appearances, he has a batting line of .317/.333/.585, including eight doubles, four home runs and 14 RBIs.
It’s a sharp swing from the start of his season. In Durbin’s first 48 games, across 164 plate appearances, he slashed .163/.241/.238 with one homer—off a position player—and 16 RBIs.
With the four-game series against the Yankees starting at Fenway Park on Thursday, Durbin said he was focused on whatever he needed to do to suit up against ace Cam Schlittler.
“I’ll talk to the trainers. I haven’t talked to them yet. In my head, I was thinking, just tape it to my other finger when I hit,” Durbin said. “And I do two fingers in the pinky when I field anyways. I’ve dry swung already. so I have a general idea of it with adrenaline. too. and getting it warmed up with the training staff. I don’t see it being really an issue at all.”.
After the late-night return from Denver and the initial fear that a finger issue could linger, Boston got the outcome it wanted: Durbin was back, and the Red Sox could head into the Yankees opener with one of their hottest bats available.
Caleb Durbin Red Sox Yankees Fenway Park pinky subluxation Cam Schlittler Chad Tracy delayed flight from Denver