REGGIE WOWED BY GLEYBER
Mr. October raving over Yanks youngster Torres
TAMPA — The path to the Bronx remains the same for phenom Gleyber Torres. It is just going to take a little more time because the Yankees don’t want to rush him.
But he is coming quickly to the Yankees. Make no mistake.
Even though he was sent to minor league camp this week, the goal is the same, check off those boxes the Yankees need him to check off, on the field and at different levels of the minors. Torres has much going for him. “He’s the most impressive young player I’ve seen this spring,’’ one scout told me Thursday.
Torres gets it done, he has that “I know I belong” approach. Not cockiness, confidence.
He is not intimidated one bit and, besides opening so many eyes inside and outside the organization, Torres accomplished a major goal, something that will help the 20-year-old for years to come, especially when he makes the jump from the minors to the majors.
Torres quickly won over one of the most knowledgeable people in the Yankees organization — and one of the most accomplished.
Reggie Jackson has become a fan of Torres and the two already have built a strong bond. Reggie and the Kid own a solid baseball friendship.
Really, this is just what Yankees general manager Brian Cashman wanted at the start of spring training. He wanted the young infielder to do so well that people would take notice.
Torres is on everybody’s radar now and even though he will start the season at Double-A Trenton, it’s only a matter of time before he will be wearing pinstripes.
Just listen to these glowing comments Jackson made to The Post regarding Torres. Reggie always gets to the heart of the matter, no wasted words.
“He’s a very mature athlete,’’ Jackson said. “He’s confident, yet he asks questions that you would get from a 20-year-old. Well acclimated. Very coachable. Under control physically. Alot of good attributes. Alot of good character stuff. He’s a player.’’
Just for emphasis, Reggie said it one more time: “He is a player.’’
Here is the best comment from Mr. October, the one that puts Torres’ present and future in perfect perspective, the kind of comment that means so much to any Yankees fan.
“He’s beyond his years,’’ Jackson told me. “I hope he gets a chance quick.’’
Reggie, 70, is not alone in that thought. Torres came to the Yankees from the Cubs in the July 25 trade of Aroldis Chapman and has been opening eyes ever since and making the most of his opportunity, including building a relationship with the Hall of Famer.
When Torres was asked about Jackson and when the words Reggie said about him were relayed back to him, he smiled.
“That means a lot to me.’’ Torres said through a translator. “For somebody like Reggie to say all those good things about me, it makes me feel good, it makes me feel proud. Overall, it’s really nice to hear that from someone like Reggie Jackson.’’
Torres made the most of his time in Yankees camp and was able to build that friendship with Jackson.
“I’ve had many conversations with him, Reggie is around a lot, and there has been plenty of time to talk to him and I really enjoy it,’’ Torres said.
“The main thing that he tells me all the time is to keep working hard, keep on doing the things that I’ve been doing up until this point and don’t lose focus. He also told me that it’s very important that your routine stays the same. That is how you build consistency. It’s great to be able to talk to him.’’
Jackson is a working Hall of Famer. He will keep an eye on Torres at Trenton and his star door is always open to the young players.
Just remember this: On June 9, 1967, nearly 50 years ago, Reggie Jackson broke into the major leagues with the Kansas City Athletics. Hewas all of 21.
Yes, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful baseball friendship.