Torres takes a Walk to Triple-A
TAMPA — The foregone conclusion of Gleyber Torres heading back to the minor leagues once veteran second baseman Neil Walker was signed by the Yankees on Monday only lasted one additional day.
Torres, the top prospect in the organization, was optioned to Triple-A Scranton following Tuesday’s 2-2 tie against the Tigers at George Steinbrenner Field.
“For me it’s Gleyber just playing and getting the reps and he’ll be fine,” Aaron Boone said before the move was announced. “I thought his at-bats were a little bit better today…All spring he’s hit some balls that he hasn’t gotten any love for, but he just needs now to continue to play and get the reps and it won’t be too long when it clicks.”
T h e 21-year-old Torres, who underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on his left (non-throwing) elbow last summer, was batting .160 (4-for25) with no RBI in 11 spring training games. He had been competing with Tyler Wade and others for playing time at second base before Walker was inked to a oneyear deal worth $4 million (plus incentives) on Monday.
“It’s the decision of the team. I don’t control that,” Torres said. “It’s not easy, nine months of no games and come back perfect. I’m human. I’ll stay focused and go wherever they tell me, do my job and wait for another opportunity.”
Catcher Kyle Higashioka also was optioned to Triple-A and reassigned to minor-league camp.
WALK THIS WAY
Walker worked out at first base and second base and took batting practice; he will switch over to the minor-league complex on Wednesday for a crash course of at-bats in simulated games, Boone said.
Walker, who had been working out at the MLBPA’s camp for unsigned free agents, added that he hopes to make his spring-training debut in a game as early as Friday.
“He’ll get some at-bats across the street, get a full day’s work on Thursday and then probably play on Friday,” Boone said. “I think he comes in here a little more ahead of the game…because he was working out at that camp.”
THE JUDGE IS IN
Aaron Judge’s new bargainrate contract works out to roughly $12,000 per home run from last season.
Judge, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year and MVP runner-up after belting 52 homers in his first full season with the Yanks, has agreed to a oneyear deal worth $622,300 for 2018, according to the Associated Press. Judge, 25, earned $544,500 as a rookie and is not eligible for salary arbitration until after the 2019 season.
Luis Severino ($604,975), Jordan Montgomery ($580,450), Greg Bird ($582,000) and Tyler Austin ($558,600) also agreed on one-year deals.
MR. PERFECTO
Yanks legend Don Larsen, who tossed the only perfect game in World Series history in 1956, received a standing ovation when introduced to the crowd before the game…Special advisor Reggie Jackson underwent knee surgery on Tuesday after slipping and falling while out for a walk earlier this week…Didi Gregorius smashed his third home run of the preseason. Adam Warren, Aroldis Chapman, David Robertson and Chad Green combined for four scoreless innings.