MILWAUKEE — For some baseball players, the process of making it to the majors can take a village. Milwaukee Brewers rising young star Caleb Durbin said his host family in college played a vital role in his success. He was traded to the Brewers before the season and is now the starting third baseman for a contending team during his rookie season.
Renee Nolan is no rookie when it comes to hosting ball players. She and her family have been a second home for many players that have come through Fond du Lac since 2019. The Dock Spiders are part of the Northwoods League, which is a summer collegiate league for baseball players to stay sharp and gain experience.
Renee and her husband Mike had a lot more time on their hands after their kids went off to college, which is why they originally became a host family.
“The hosting experience is so rewarding. If anyone has the ability to host either for the Dock Spiders or any of the Northwoods league teams, I would definitely recommend it,” said Renee Nolan. “If you have an empty bedroom and you’re willing to potentially see a future big leaguer and help them grow, it’s so worth it.”
Former Dock Spiders infielder Caleb Durbin was in the Nolan’s living room when he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 14th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. Durbin said that although he didn’t have his real family around for the moment, having his host family there meant a lot to him.
“I kind of liked having them there and be able to share that moment with them was super cool because they’re a big part of that journey too,” said Durbin. “Letting me crash at their place for the summer, it’s really cool to share that moment with them.”
Renee Nolan said Durbin was a great tenant who was an even better person. She said whether he was on the field or at home, he always worked hard and was fun to be around. She said that being there to see him making his dreams come true was an indescribable feeling. Neither of them would have believed Durbin would end up playing for the hometown team in Milwaukee during the time he spent in Fond du Lac.
“Watching him grow all through the minor leagues from when he was with the Braves to the Yankees and now the Brewers has been quite the journey,” said Renee Nolan. “We’re so proud of him and how hard he’s been working, and it’s paid off.”
Durbin said there are things he misses about his host family, like Renee Nolan’s famous banana bread. He said his route to the Brewers has been a wild one, but he wouldn’t change it for the world.
“Now I’m living my dream, playing in the bigs in Milwaukee,” said Durbin. “It’s tough to put into words…the way it’s played out, is you don’t really expect it to play out like that, but it’s been a really cool journey and looking forward to being in Milwaukee.”