There’s a lot of buzz around Andrew Fischer, the Milwaukee Brewers’ 2025 first-round pick, who was recently named the top third base prospect in all of baseball. And sure, the hype is warranted-Fischer’s upside is real. But let’s not forget who’s currently holding down the hot corner in Milwaukee: Caleb Durbin.
Durbin quietly put together a strong rookie campaign in 2025, and he’s done more than just fill the position-he’s made it his own. After coming over from the Yankees in the trade that sent All-Star closer Devin Williams packing, Durbin wasted no time earning the trust of the Brewers’ coaching staff and the love of the fanbase. He slashed .256/.334/.387 with 11 home runs, 53 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases, stepping in as the everyday third baseman and showing the kind of consistency and grit that wins over a clubhouse.
And if you needed more proof that Durbin’s become a favorite inside the organization, look no further than manager Pat Murphy’s recent comments-delivered with a smile and a little playful ribbing.
Murphy, who’s been making the rounds across Wisconsin on a fan engagement tour, stopped in Green Bay this week and brought some laughs with a FaceTime call to Durbin during his appearance. The call was lighthearted, but also a window into the kind of camaraderie that’s brewing inside the Brewers’ clubhouse.
“Hey Durbs, I gotta ask you something, man,” Murphy said, holding his phone up to the crowd. “There’s some people that wanna know some things, man.
They wanna know, like, I told them you were four-foot-eleven. Can you figure that out?”
Durbin, ever the good sport, responded with a laugh: “I mean, yeah, no you’re right.”
Murphy kept the jokes rolling: “I also told them that I tell you to go up and get hit by a pitch and you just say, ‘Okay.’ I also told them that when ground balls get hit to you, I never have to worry about it going through your legs, because if it does, it will just hit you in the cup.”
It’s the kind of exchange that tells you everything about Durbin’s standing in the room. He’s five-foot-seven-not quite the prototypical size for a big league infielder-but he plays bigger than his frame.
Case in point: he led the National League in hit-by-pitches last season with 24. That’s not just a stat-it’s a statement.
Durbin’s willing to do whatever it takes to get on base, to help his team win, to make an impact.
While Fischer might be the future, Durbin is very much the present. And if the Brewers are going to make noise in 2026, don’t be surprised if it’s their undersized, overachieving third baseman leading the charge-with a few bruises to show for it.