As the 2025 MLB season got underway, the Milwaukee Brewers faced an unresolved situation at third base. Despite having the entire offseason to address the issue, the front office chose not to make significant moves at the position. This was especially surprising given that Joey Ortiz, who had previously seen time at third, was shifting over to fill a role in the middle infield. Heading into spring training, the Brewers brought in a collection of players who could potentially fill the void at third base. As camp progressed, two players in particular—Oliver Dunn and Vinny Capra—stood out enough to break camp with the team and handle third base duties as a platoon.
However, just three weeks into the new regular season, the Brewers have already decided to shake things up at the position. On Wednesday, Milwaukee announced that Oliver Dunn would be optioned to their Triple-A affiliate, the Nashville Sounds. At the time of the announcement, the club did not immediately disclose which player would be taking his place on the active roster. Dunn struggled to find consistency at the plate, managing a batting average of only .167 while receiving the bulk of at-bats in the left-right third base platoon setup. His counterpart in the platoon, Vinny Capra, hasn’t fared much better statistically, but the Brewers opted to keep him on the roster, likely because Capra is out of minor league options, whereas Dunn still had options available.
Stepping into this situation is infielder Caleb Durbin, one of Milwaukee’s more intriguing young prospects. Durbin was part of the trade last December that sent All-Star closer Devin Williams to the New York Yankees, with the Brewers acquiring both Durbin and veteran pitcher Nestor Cortes in return. During spring training, Durbin quickly caught the attention of Brewers manager Pat Murphy thanks to his energetic play and versatility. However, as he was in the process of adjusting defensively to a new position, the team elected to have him begin the season in Triple-A to continue refining those skills.
Since the start of the minor league season, Durbin has performed well both at the plate and in the field. In 13 games with the Nashville Sounds, he posted a .278 batting average, smacked five doubles, hit a pair of home runs, swiped three bases, and compiled a respectable .797 OPS. With Milwaukee’s third base group ranking among the league’s least productive offensively, Durbin offers a potential spark the club sorely needs. According to MLB insider Adam McCalvy, the Brewers are now set to promote Durbin to the big-league roster, hoping his hot bat and high-energy style can make an immediate impact.
