Ready to step in at SS if Didi goes on DL
Gleyber comes alive leyber Torres may have come out of his slump at the right time. The Yankees rookie infielder went 2-for-4 Sunday and extended his hitting streak to four games in the Yankees’ 10-2 victory over the Blue Jays at the Stadium.
The 21-year-old will likely be playing at least a few games at shortstop and moving up in the lineup with the injury to Didi Gregorius on Sunday.
Gregorius suffered a bruised left heel after a collision in the first inning. Aaron Boone said that while tests showed no broken bones, there is significant swelling. He indicated it will possibly put Gregorius on the disabled list.
“Gleyber would move over and get the bulk of the work at shortstop if Didi was down for significant time,” the Yankee manager said. “Obviously we have (Ronald Torreyes) capable of playing there, so we’ll kind of mix and match and figure it out from there.”
Sunday, Torres moved over to shortstop when Gregorius left the game and Torreyes, who recorded a season-high tying three hits, played second base.
Torres said he is ready for whatever position the Yankees ask him to play.
“I am very comfortable in both positions. Right now second base is my position, I feel really good. To me, it’s really important to help my team,” Torres said. “If I get the opportunity to play shortstop, I do the same thing, try to be focus, do my job and help my team.”
Torres is 6 for his last 15 atbats, a significant improvement after going 10-for-66 in his first 18 games back from a right hip injury. HEY, DON’T WE KNOW YOU?
J.A. Happ had to work hard for it Sunday. Facing his former team for the first time, he needed 27 pitches to get through the first inning. Acquired by the Yankees from Toronto at the July 31 non-waiver
Greg Bird hit his second career grand slam Sunday, both of which came this season. The struggling first baseman hit a home run in his last at-bat on Saturday and first Sunday, which Boone thinks is a good sign.
“Huge. That’s big. Two BYE-BYE BIRDIE trade deadline, Happ was facing guys who played behind him for most of the year.
The Blue Jays were aggressive against Happ. He allowed two earned runs (both solo homers), gave up seven hits, walked one and struck out eight. He improved to 4-0 as a Yankee with a 2.22 ERA. After spending parts of six of the last seven years there, Happ said it was a little weird facing his former teammates.
“I’d probably prefer not knowing the opposition the way I know those guys,” Happ said, “but we got through it.” SANCHEZ SETTING OUT swings in a row where we see the life through the zone, really night and day from just a couple of days ago,” Boone said. “You really see the bat coming through with some authority.”
Gary Sanchez could be in a minor-league rehab game by the end of the week.
“I would expect a rehab to start in Tampa whether in the Gulf Coast League or whatever probably Wednesday or Thursday,” Boone said. “Then we’ll just hopefully be on the fast track at that point. He’s doing really well. I think he’s running really well, I think his conditioning is really good.”
Austin Romine said he was fine Sunday morning after taking a 98 mph fastball off his facemask. “They were extensive. To the point, but there is some protocol for this stuff,” Romine said Sunday morning. “(Trainer) Stevie (Donohue) came out, gave me the rundown. He was adamant I come out.” RECOVERING