Yankees’ Torres claims to be ‘picking at right time,’ brushes off free-agency pressure

Follow Us

Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres has regained form just in time for a pivotal stretch before free agency after a tough season marked by offensive struggles and defensive miscues, including leading second basemen in errors.

September has brought new life to Torres. As the Yankees surged ahead of the Orioles in the AL East, Torres emerged as the team’s top leadoff hitter while sharpening his defense. His resurgence has made him a crucial part of New York’s lineup, joining forces with stars like Juan Soto and Aaron Judge as the postseason nears.

When asked about his turnaround, Torres credited his success to hard work and a relentless focus on adjustments. Reflecting on the season’s early struggles, he expressed satisfaction in overcoming the challenges and finding his rhythm at the right time.

“For sure I’m peaking at the right time,” he claimed. “The first part of the season was not good for me. I know I was not that guy. I tried to figure out a way to get better.”

In Sunday’s 7-4 victory, Torres continued his strong play, notching two hits, including a solo home run, as the Yankees edged closer to securing the division title. His September numbers have been impressive, with a .330 batting average, three home runs, 12 RBIs, and a .847 OPS over 20 games.

As the postseason looms, Torres remains focused on helping the team succeed, emphasizing his ability to reach base, have quality at-bats, and create scoring chances for his teammates. “We’re going to the postseason and I want to win,” the second baseman said. “I know I’m capable of getting on base a lot, having really good at-bats, hitting the ball the other way and getting on base for the other guys to drive me in.”

Since that lineup shift, Torres has shown significant improvement. Over 34 games as the leadoff hitter, he’s raised his batting average to .308, slugging five home runs and driving in 17 runs. This stretch has boosted his overall season average to .254.

Torres has embraced the leadoff role, recognizing the strength of the lineup behind him. He emphasized his primary focus: getting on base to create scoring chances for his teammates.

“I like hitting leadoff,” he said. “I know the guys that are behind me. I just want to get on base and pass the baton.”

His consistency early in games has been especially notable. Torres has reached base in the first inning of four consecutive contests, starting with a walk in Seattle and followed by singles in each game of the series against Oakland.

Aaron Judge praised Torres’ ability to set the tone at the top of the order, noting how it eases pressure on the batters that follow. He pointed out the advantage of having Torres get on base for Soto in the second spot.

“Gleyber starting it off for us, I feel like every single game he’s on base to lead off the game, and that kind of takes a little pressure off the guys,” the Yankees captain said. “When you can hand it off to Juan right behind him, it makes for a fun time.”

Torres hits stride for Yankees, shurgs off contract uncertainty

Despite his late-season surge, there’s speculation the Yankees may let Torres test free agency this winter. Still, his recent performance has certainly bolstered his value and underscored his importance to the team’s playoff push.

Torres’ season took a sharp turn for the better after moving to the leadoff spot on August 16, when his batting average was a lackluster .236. In his first game in this new role, hitting ahead of Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, Torres delivered a solid 2-for-4 performance with a double, helping the Yankees secure a 3-0 win over Detroit.

Earlier in the season, Torres faced personal challenges despite the team’s overall success. While he took pride in the Yankees’ rebound from last year’s playoff absence, he struggled to find his own rhythm.

Offensively, his batting average lingered in the low .220s until July, while his defensive play at second base was inconsistent. Torres endured stretches of clean fielding interrupted by moments of shaky defense, including mishandling routine grounders and dropping an easy popup.

Reflecting on his season, Torres didn’t shy away from criticizing his own performance, admitting to making what he called “stupid errors” on plays he should have executed. He expressed disappointment in his defensive lapses and refused to offer excuses for his mistakes. “I’ve made some stupid errors this year,” he said. “For sure, I’ve made too many on easy plays. There’s no excuse. I feel really depressed when I make those errors.”

Gleyber Torres has shown noticeable improvement defensively in recent weeks, going 12 straight games without an error. This comes after a rough patch where he committed three errors over a four-game span. Before that, he had been relatively steady, making just one error in 31 games.

During this more consistent stretch, Torres has excelled in handling balls hit up the middle. His strength at second base is his ability to backhand grounders to his right and make accurate throws, as reflected in his Baseball Savant outs above average (OAA) rating. For balls hit in that direction, Torres holds a positive rating of plus-3.

However, he continues to struggle with balls hit to his left. His OAA rating in that area stands at minus-10, contributing to an overall defensive rating of minus-7, placing him near the bottom of the rankings for MLB second basemen with at least 100 chances.

Traditional defensive metrics also highlight Torres’ challenges. He leads all second basemen with 18 errors—six more than the next player—and his .968 fielding percentage is the lowest among players who have started at least 30 games at the position.

Despite these numbers, Torres remains focused on improvement. He believes his defense has taken a step forward in recent months, recognizing how crucial his fielding is to the team’s success. The Yankees second baseman credits his improvement to his pre-game work, which includes on-field practice and video analysis with first base coach Travis Chapman, who manages infield defense.

Torres values his collaboration with Chapman, noting how their discussions and video reviews have helped him correct past mistakes. This focused preparation has allowed him to better field balls that previously gave him trouble, further bolstering his defensive confidence.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone has consistently backed Gleyber Torres amid mounting criticism about his defensive lapses. Boone acknowledges Torres’ knack for making impressive plays, but he’s also clear that routine mistakes remain a concern. While Torres’ error count is higher than expected, Boone stresses that tightening up on standard plays is crucial for him to reach his full potential.

Boone is aware that Torres’ missteps attract more attention than his successes, but he insists that Torres’ overall defensive performance has improved recently, showing more consistency in key situations.

On the offensive side, hitting coach James Rowson has been instrumental in Torres’ resurgence. Rowson points to Torres’ improved timing at the plate and a more relaxed approach to his at-bats, crediting this shift as key to his turnaround. Rowson emphasizes the mental side of the game, arguing that players perform best when they aren’t bogged down by pressure or overthinking.

Rowson speculates that Torres may have been under stress earlier in the season, possibly due to looming contract uncertainties, though he stops short of definitively linking Torres’ struggles to off-field distractions. He highlights a common truth: players face challenges beyond the field, but expectations to perform remain the same.

“I can’t answer to that, but what I can say is he’s human,” the hitting coach explained. “We all have things that we go through every day. Gleyber comes to the ballpark expecting to perform and let those things go, but I think at different times we all face different things.”

Still, Rowson is firm in recognizing Torres’ focus and commitment at the ballpark, acknowledging that while every player deals with personal issues, Torres has worked to keep his head in the game, a key factor in his offensive rebound.

Hitting coach James Rowson suggests that a mix of personal challenges and on-field struggles can extend a player’s slump far beyond a short downturn, dragging it out for weeks or even months. On the flip side, he notes that when a hitter starts to relax and puts together a few solid at-bats, they can quickly return to form.

Rowson points out that players often tense up when they try to do too much, which can subtly disrupt their swing mechanics. As a hitter begins to see the ball better and finds success at the plate, that tension fades, resulting in a quicker bat and smoother swings.

He highlights that this relaxation has been key to Torres’ recent improvement, both in his swing and his overall approach at the plate. Rowson stresses the importance of the mental side of hitting, saying it’s just as vital as the physical aspects.

Currently, Torres appears to be in a strong mental space. Though uncertain about his future with the team, he has expressed a desire to stay with the Yankees. Still, Torres is making a point to set those concerns aside and focus on his present performance and the Yankees’ push for a World Series title.

While he acknowledges his affection for the team, Torres is clear that his attention remains on this season, not his looming free agency. His immediate priorities are personal growth and helping the Yankees win, with plans to address his future only after the season ends.

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Follow Us