GLEYBER LABORS
Torres gets night off as slump continues
Gleyber Torres was not in the lineup Wednesday night. Aaron Boone wanted to give the struggling rookie second baseman a break to try and regroup and rediscover the swing he had before he was injured.
“I just wanted to give him a day, I feel like pressing a little bit up there, chasing that hit,” Boone said. “I don't feel like he's far off. Feel that physically he's in a pretty good place. Just felt like he's been grinding pretty hard at the plate right now.
“So, just a day to catch his breath to find that good timing that I know is right around the corner for him.”
Torres, who had been on pace to be a shoo-in for American League Rookie of the Year, has been struggling since he missed 15 games last month with a right hip strain.
The difference in Torres from before the injury and after is stark.
In the first 63 games he played this season, Torres hit .294 with 15 home runs and 42 RBI. In the 19 games since his return, Torres is hitting .145 with three home runs and 10 RBI.
“I think pitchers through this last couple weeks have been getting ahead early with some secondary stuff. They've done a good job of getting ahead of him in the count, expanding in different counts,” Boone said. “When you go through a little bit of a funk as a hitter at any point in the season, you start chasing that result a little bit.”
And you can see that Torres is chasing more these days. He is striking out at a greater rate, 28% before the injury and 32% since returning July 25.
“He's too good, he knows it. He also knows it's a matter of time before he really gets rolling,” Boone said. “As he gets through this stretch, he's had that good at bat where you feel like he's about to get rolling again. He's had some tough luck hitting balls right at guys, but hopefully just a day, we'll kind of reset him and get him rolling sooner than later.”
TOE’S BACK
Ronald Torreyes was back in the Yankees lineup Wednesday night. The popular utility infielder hit .323 with six doubles and six RBI before he was demoted to Triple-A this season. After spending two years in the big leagues, where he hit .286 with four homers in 180 total games, Torreyes took the demotion in stride — even if the Yankees fans did not. The 25year old appreciated the outcry that followed his demotion.
“Fans have a loud voice. When I was down there I received a lot of messages from a lot of fans, encouraging words,” Torreyes said through the team translator. “Now that I am back, they are saying ‘You are finally back.' It serves as motivation to see that somehow you matter to so many different people you don't even know.”
Torreyes missed most of July with a personal issue, which was reported to involve his wife's health. The 25-year old Venezuelan native would not discuss the specifics, but was said she is OK.