Gleyber Torres, the New York Yankees’ second baseman, is beginning to show signs of improvement after a difficult start to the season.
Torres’ struggles have been a hot topic, even among former teammates. Luis Severino, now with the New York Mets, recently joked in a group text that the Yankees only had two strong hitters, pointing to the team’s offensive challenges.
This slump was especially worrisome for Torres, who is in a contract year. However, the Yankees are optimistic that he can reestablish himself as a key offensive player alongside Aaron Judge and Juan Soto.
In late June, manager Aaron Boone gave Torres a two-game “reset” following a string of poor performances, including a crucial error and lack of hustle in a loss to the Mets.
Since the reset, Torres has shown signs of improvement. Before the All-Star break, he was hitting .215 with a .628 OPS over 80 games. In the 19 games following the break, he has raised his average to .237 and his OPS to .681. His resurgence was highlighted in Friday’s 9-7 loss to the Boston Red Sox, where he went 3-for-5 with a double.
As the Yankees navigate a challenging season, Torres’ potential return to form could provide a much-needed boost to their lineup.
But Yankees cautiously optimistic
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone shared cautious optimism about Gleyber Torres’ recent upswing in performance before the team’s series opener at Fenway Park.
Boone highlighted that small successes could help a player regain confidence when struggling to meet past standards. He acknowledged that falling short of one’s usual performance can make the game mentally taxing, requiring resilience and adaptation.
The Yankees’ manager mentioned a recent conversation with Torres, reminding the infielder of his credentials as a two-time All-Star and his consistency as one of the team’s top hitters last season.
Torres’ slow start this year led to his demotion from the leadoff spot to the lower end of the batting order. However, with the offense relying heavily on Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, Torres’ potential to provide additional support has gained importance.
In response, Boone moved Torres back to the leadoff spot on Wednesday before placing him fifth in the batting order for Friday’s game.
Boone commended Torres’ energy and approach at the plate in recent days, indicating a positive trend in the infielder’s performance.
As Torres nears free agency at the season’s end, his recent upswing in performance could play a pivotal role in future contract negotiations.
During the Subway Series, Mets pitcher and former Yankees teammate Luis Severino noticed Torres’ less-than-stellar statistics displayed on the scoreboard. Severino, who endured his own struggles during a contract year with the Yankees, posting a 6.65 ERA, sympathized with Torres’ challenges.
Despite his commitments with the Mets, Severino has kept tabs on his former team and intends to discuss free agency with Torres, likely during the offseason once the current season concludes.
Torres’ recent improvement at the plate offers a brighter outlook for these future discussions. As the second half of the season progresses, his performance will be critical in shaping the offers he receives in free agency.
The Yankees are optimistic that Torres can sustain his momentum, potentially enhancing both the team’s prospects this season and his own future opportunities.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Yes, he is getting the bat on the ball a little. But his defense is horrible, bad transfer on double play, lazy getting to broken bat pop up should have been caught, not running hard to first base on a grounder out, second base could have fumbled the ball when seeing you running hard, or pitcher could have done the same thing seeing you running. This is not acceptable play. Oh, how about not tagging up on ball to centerfield when Judge scored. Just flat out a lazy plyer.