Gleyber Torres’ struggles cast a shadow on his future in pinstripes

Gleyber Torres‘ sluggish start to the 2024 season has become a growing concern for the New York Yankees. Initially penciled in as the leadoff hitter, Torres has seen his batting order position demoted in favor of rookie Anthony Volpe.

On WFAN radio, Yankees analyst Brandon Tierney voiced his frustration with Gleyber Torres’ performance. Tierney criticized the player’s defensive miscues and his underwhelming offensive output, which currently sits at a meager .208 batting average with no home runs.

With Gleyber Torres slated for free agency after the season, his struggles are drawing heightened scrutiny casting doubts over his Yankees stint. The impending return of DJ LeMahieu from injury presents a potential lineup shuffle. Oswaldo Cabrera, who has impressed offensively, could be shifted from third base to fill the second base vacancy left by LeMahieu.

Despite Gleyber Torres’ woes, manager Aaron Boone remains hopeful for a turnaround. Boone acknowledges the second baseman’s current slump but maintains his belief in the player’s ability to break out. However, Boone also recognizes the illogicality of benching Cabrera, who has been a bright spot for the Yankees.

“He’s lined out a couple times,” Boone said. “He’s having deep at-bats. I feel like he’s making good swing decisions. He’s just missed — like, ‘Oh!’ — that fly ball to center where I feel like he’s getting a good swing off, maybe just missing it a little bit. I think it’s the quality of the at-bat coupled with what I know of him as a hitter and his ability to bat the ball, I do feel like he’s close to taking off.”

The Yankees find themselves in a bit of a conundrum. Do they stick with Gleyber Torres and hope he rediscovers his form, or do they prioritize current production and potentially open the door for a position change for Cabrera? This dilemma will likely continue to be a talking point until Gleyber Torres can improve his performance on the field.

Gleyber Torres’ struggles spark debate

Gleyber Torres, player of the New York Yankees. — AP

Gleyber Torres’ sluggish start to the season has drawn harsh criticism, particularly from Yankees analyst Brandon Tierney on WFAN radio, as reported by Audacy. Tierney expressed mounting frustration with Torres’ lackluster performance, particularly his current pace for only 18 RBIs without a single home run, which he deemed unacceptable.

“He’s on my last nerve already,” Tierney said. “Gleyber Torres is on pace for 18 RBI. He doesn’t have a home run yet … he looks awful. I can’t wait until he’s gone. I can’t remember the last time I saw a second baseman try and make a play like that … if you’re going to go for that play, you must nail him.”

Tierney’s frustration reached a boiling point after a specific play during a recent game against the Blue Jays. Gleyber Torres attempted a throw-out at third on a grounder to second, but it backfired and ultimately contributed to the Blue Jays’ victory. Tierney emphasized that such plays, if attempted, need to be executed flawlessly.

Fans have echoed Tierney’s sentiments on social media, directing their frustrations toward Gleyber Torres. His current statistics – a .208 batting average, a low .554 OPS, and 20 strikeouts in just 72 at-bats – have resulted in a negative WAR (-0.2).

Yankees' second baseman Gleyber Torres is at George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, on March 24, 2024. — gmsfield

Following Gleyber Torres’ demotion from the leadoff spot last week, Boone publicly defended the second baseman, expressing his belief that Torres is “on the verge of really getting it going.” Boone pointed to Torres’ quality at-bats, highlighting his solid hitting skills despite the lack of results.

Boone elaborated on Gleyber Torres’ struggles, attributing them to a touch of bad luck. He mentioned instances where Torres hit line drives but was unlucky and commended the player for making good decisions at the plate. Boone referenced a recent fly ball to the center where Gleyber Torres just missed making solid contact, using it as evidence of his underlying hitting ability.

With Boone expressing confidence in Gleyber Torres and the Yankee himself showing glimpses of improvement, the question remains: will Torres turn things around or will the Yankees prioritize immediate production and potentially explore a shift for the struggling infielder?

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