Red Sox Shake Up Infield: Durbin & Mayer Switch Positions

Spring Training Update Sees Two Young Talents Swap Roles

Apr. 10, 2026 at 12:09pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball infield broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in shades of red, white, and navy blue, conceptually representing the strategic position changes of the Red Sox players.The Red Sox's strategic infield shuffle aims to maximize the defensive versatility of their top prospects Marcelo Mayer and Caleb Durbin.Boston Today

The Boston Red Sox are making a significant shift in their infield strategy this spring, with top prospects Marcelo Mayer and Caleb Durbin swapping positions. Durbin, who has primarily played third base, will now take reps at second base, while Mayer, a natural shortstop, will move to the hot corner. The team is looking to get a thorough evaluation of both players at multiple infield spots before finalizing their everyday lineup.

Why it matters

This position switch highlights the Red Sox's focus on player development and defensive versatility, as they aim to find the optimal infield alignment that maximizes the strengths of Mayer and Durbin. The move also draws parallels to the successful transition of former Red Sox prospect Brice Turang, who went from shortstop to second base in the majors.

The details

According to reports, Durbin will take reps at second base this Friday during Red Sox spring training workouts, while Mayer will shift to third base. Neither player will be in the starting lineup for the team's exhibition game against Northeastern that day, as the coaching staff wants to get an extended look at the two young talents in their new positions. Durbin has previous experience at second base in the minors, while Mayer has shown the ability to play third base at the MLB level when called upon.

  • The position switch will take place this Friday during Red Sox spring training workouts.
  • Neither Durbin nor Mayer will be in the starting lineup for the Red Sox's exhibition game against Northeastern on Friday.

The players

Marcelo Mayer

A top Red Sox prospect who has primarily played shortstop in the minor leagues, but is now transitioning to third base as part of the team's infield shakeup.

Caleb Durbin

Another highly touted Red Sox prospect who has primarily played third base, but is now shifting to second base as the team evaluates his versatility.

Brice Turang

A former Red Sox prospect who successfully transitioned from shortstop to second base in the major leagues, winning a Platinum Glove award.

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What they’re saying

“I'm used to second, I moved around every spring training, I've been a guy that, I'm not going to be pigeonholed into one spot in spring. I'm going to move around, just to give myself and the team some flexibility, I'm sure. I definitely anticipate playing a decent amount of second, a lot of third, wouldn't be surprised if I had some games at short, but just trying to stay flexible.”

— Caleb Durbin

What’s next

The Red Sox will closely monitor Durbin and Mayer's performances at their new positions during the remainder of spring training, with the goal of finalizing their everyday infield alignment before the start of the regular season.

The takeaway

The Red Sox's strategic infield shuffle highlights their commitment to player development and defensive versatility, as they aim to find the optimal alignment that maximizes the strengths of their top prospects. This approach could pay dividends in the long run, as seen with the successful transition of former Red Sox prospect Brice Turang from shortstop to second base.