Involved in an early step of the biosynthesis of the catechol siderophore vibriobactin. Vibriobactin is a chelating compound involved in transporting iron from the bacterial environment into the cell cytoplasm. (2S,3S)-2,3-dihydroxy-2,3-dihydrobenzoate + NAD(+) = 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate + H(+) + NADH Siderophore biosynthesis; vibriobactin biosynthesis. Belongs to the short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDR) family. It is uncertain whether Met-1 or Met-4 is the initiator.