Caleb Durbin still looking for first hit with Boston Red Sox

Baseball analysis requires the rejection of the “small sample,” though no short-term stretch comes under a greater microscope during the regular season than what happens right at the beginning.

The Boston Red Sox are off to a 1-5 start, and former Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Caleb Durbin is the last remaining qualified Major Leaguer without a hit, opening the year 0-for-18 with five strikeouts and one walk.

Needless to say, Red Sox fans have grown quickly annoyed with Durbin’s start. That chorus got even louder when one of the three players the Brewers received in the trade for Durbin, starting pitcher Kyle Harrison, delivered a smooth first outing against Tampa Bay on March 30.

Durbin isn’t the only player struggling on the Sox. Rising young star Roman Anthony is 5-for-22 with 11 strikeouts, though he did just hit his first homer of the year April 1, while regulars Trevor Story, Willson Contreras and Jarren Duren are all batting below .200 with one homer among them.

It goes without saying, but 18 at-bats is hardly a fair sample on which to judge.

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See Christian Yelich’s home run from all angles in Brewers comeback win

Milwaukee Brewers’ Christian Yelich (22) reacts after hitting a pinch hit three-run home run in the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field. The homer capped a five-run eighth inning that sent the Brewers to a 9-7 come-from-behind victory to complete a season-opening sweep.

Scroll through this gallery to see highlights of the home run.

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See Christian Yelich’s home run from all angles in Brewers comeback win

Scroll through this gallery to see highlights of the home run.

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See Christian Yelich’s home run from all angles in Brewers comeback win

Mar 29, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich (22) hits a three-run home run against the Chicago White Sox in the eighth inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

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See Christian Yelich’s home run from all angles in Brewers comeback win

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MARCH 29: Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers hits a three-run homer to take the lead in the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field on March 29, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

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See Christian Yelich’s home run from all angles in Brewers comeback win

Mar 29, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich (22) reacts after hitting a three-run home run in the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

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See Christian Yelich’s home run from all angles in Brewers comeback win

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See Christian Yelich’s home run from all angles in Brewers comeback win

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See Christian Yelich’s home run from all angles in Brewers comeback win

Mar 29, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich (22) is greeted by teammates after hitting a three-run home run against the Chicago White Sox in the eighth inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

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See Christian Yelich’s home run from all angles in Brewers comeback win

Mar 29, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich (22) gets dunked by center fielder Garrett Mitchell (5) after beating the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

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See Christian Yelich’s home run from all angles in Brewers comeback win

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MARCH 29: Garrett Mitchell #5 dumps water on Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers after the 9-7 win over the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field on March 29, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

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See Christian Yelich’s home run from all angles in Brewers comeback win

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MARCH 29: Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers walks off the field after hitting the game-winning three-run homer on the first pinch hit home run of his career, in a game against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field on March 29, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Chicago White Sox 9-7. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

Nor is Durbin alone across baseball. Nick Kurtz, the reigning American League Rookie of the Year for the Athletics who hit 36 homers in a monster 2025, is 1-for-17 with 11 strikeouts. Outfielders Kerry Carpenter (Detroit) and T.J. Friedl (Cincinnati) are each 2-for-22. The Brewers just faced Rays outfielder Cedric Mullins, who’s 1-for-21, and Kansas City veteran Marcell Ozuna is 1-for-20, all marks entering April 2.

On the other side of the offseason Durbin deal, David Hamilton is only 2-for-12 for the Brewers, but he’s walked four times, stolen four bases, struck out just twice and has driven in a pair of runs.

Minor-leaguer Shane Drohan allowed two runs on three hits in 3⅓ innings in his Class AAA Nashville debut March 31, with six strikeouts and four walks. Harrison allowed a leadoff homer in his outing but finished five innings having allowed just the one run on four hits, with eight strikeouts.

Boston Red Sox third baseman Caleb Durbin throws to first to get Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart out in the fourth inning of a game March 26, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

How have other 2025 Brewers fared with new teams to start the year?

Reliever Ángel Zerpa has looked great in three early games for the Brewers, allowing two hits and a walk with two strikeouts and no runs in three innings.

Nick Mears, sent with Isaac Collins to Kansas City in the offseason for Zerpa, has allowed just one hit in two innings, with three strikeouts.

Collins, who joined Durbin in receiving Rookie of the Year award votes last year, is only 2-for-12, but both hits are for extra bases, including a home run. He’s batting .167, but he still has a passable .333 on-base percentage with two walks and a hit-by-pitch.

Freddy Peralta was sharp April 1 in his second start for the New York Mets, although St. Louis ultimately won the game in walk-off fashion, 2-1, in 11 innings. Peralta allowed just one run on three hits with two walks in 5⅓ innings, with seven strikeouts on 92 pitches. That topped his first outing, when he allowed four earned runs on six hits but didn’t walk anybody and struck out seven over five innings in a Mets victory on Opening Day against Pittsburgh.

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