Torres shows off high IQ on bases
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Gleyber Torres is listed among the top prospects in baseball for a solid bat and good actions at shortstop.
Saturday he displayed very good instincts when he scored from second on a wild pitch against the Phillies at Spectrum Field.
Torres, who had two doubles in a 6-5 loss, was on second base behind Miguel Andujar when Cesar Ramos bounced a pitch in the dirt that hit catcher Cameron Rupp and rolled toward the Yankees’ dugout. After Andujar scored easily, Torres raced around third and was safe at home.
“I was ready for anything and when the pitch bounced I was ready to run,’’ said the 20-year-old whose speed is considered average.
Acquired from the Cubs as the linchpin of the deal that sent Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs last July, Torres is ticketed for Double-A Trenton this coming season, which will be his first above Single-A.
“It’s great instincts and aggressive baserunning. There are a lot of things he has to do. He has to get a good secondary [lead], a good jump on the secondary and then read the ball and he did all three,’’ manager Joe Girardi said. “He is a bright kid who knows how to play the game. You look at his at-bats, a double down the right-field line, a double down the leftfield line, using the whole field. He played a very good shortstop today. His IQ is really good.’’
Asked if Torres reminded him of a young Jeter, Girardi said, “They are probably different kind of players. As far as being able to play in the moment? Yes. They are different type of players.’’