Central ND News

Former Northwoods League players Caleb Durbin and Chandler Simpson have made their Major League Baseball debuts, raising the total of players from the league to reach the MLB to 380. Durbin took the field first on April 18, followed by Simpson on April 19.

Caleb Durbin, who previously played for the Rockford Rivets and Fond du Lac Dock Spiders, is now with the Milwaukee Brewers. His college career was spent at Washington University in St. Louis. Durbin entered professional baseball through the 14th round of the 2021 MLB draft with the Atlanta Braves. His past journey includes playing for the Braves’ Rookie team in the Florida Complex League and various assignments in the Low-A, High-A, and Double-A leagues before moving through several team trades, ultimately landing with the Brewers. In his debut against the Athletics, Durbin played third base and went 2 for 4, scoring a run.

Chandler Simpson's path started at the Georgia Institute of Technology and he played for the Dock Spiders during 2021. Drafted in the second round of the 2022 MLB draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, Simpson began his professional journey with the Rays’ Florida Complex League team. His career ascended from the Low-A Carolina League with the Charleston RiverDogs to high performance in the High-A South Atlantic League. Simpson's 2024 season involved strategic moves up to the Montgomery Biscuits, where he averaged .355 with 104 stolen bases across 110 games.

The careers of both athletes highlight the developmental opportunities provided by the Northwoods League, a key pipeline for emerging talents seeking to make an impact in the Major Leagues.