Red Sox third baseman Caleb Durbin undergoes surgery on injured left pinkie

The Boston Red Sox announced on Sunday that third baseman Caleb Durbin has undergone surgery to repair a lingering injury in his left pinkie. The team said Durbin underwent a proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint reconstruction last week in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and described the procedure as successful.

Durbin’s left pinkie problem was one he had played through for months, the Red Sox said. The decision to continue playing while managing the injury is a reminder of how often hand and finger issues become difficult to treat without affecting everyday baseball tasks like throwing, fielding, and gripping the bat.

The PIP joint is the middle joint of the finger, and reconstructive procedures in that area are typically used when there is ongoing damage that does not resolve with rest or simpler interventions. For infielders, even minor limitations can matter because the hands absorb impact on hard-hit grounders, and small changes in finger stability can affect throwing mechanics and ball control at short distances.

The Red Sox did not provide a specific timetable for Durbin’s return in the announcement. As he recovers from surgery, the club will need to manage how that impacts its infield depth and day-to-day options at third base.

From a team-building standpoint, Durbin’s situation matters because the infield is a core part of run prevention and defensive rhythm. A third baseman’s comfort and consistency often depend on the ability to make quick, reliable throws and maintain a repeatable glove-to-hand transfer, tasks that are closely tied to hand function during rehab.

The next key development will be how the Red Sox monitor Durbin’s progression after surgery and what that means for his availability in the final stages of the season. Even with a successful procedure, recovery from finger reconstruction can involve staged return to activity, from basic range-of-motion work to higher-intensity throwing and live at-bats.

For now, Boston will treat the repair as a step toward restoring full use of Durbin’s left hand, while the immediate focus stays on recovery and limiting setbacks during the healing process.