Scout: Top prospect Torres showing ‘some rust’
TAMPA — The scouting industry is convinced Gleyber Torres will eventually be a big presence in the Yankees’ lineup.
However, the 21-year-old has looked like a player who hasn’t played since last June when the stud infield prospect injured his left arm and underwent Tommy John surgery.
“He looks like a player who hasn’t played much,’’ said a scout this past weekend after watching Torres. “There is some rust there.’’
When the Yankees dealt Starlin Castro to the Marlins in the trade that brought Giancarlo Stanton to The Bronx, an opening at second base was created.
Despite playing in just 55 games above Single-A, Torres’ name jumped to the top of the second-base candidates. He played a limited amount of minor league games at the position, but was a shortstop who many believed would have no trouble shifting to the other side of second base. Ten games into the exhibition season Torres hasn’t grabbed the opening by the throat since he is 2-for-16 (.125) and was guilty of trying to be too slick with a glove flip that botched a roomservice double play last week. And don’t forget the Yankees could send Torres to the minors for two weeks at the start of the season and gain another year of contract control over him. General manager Brian Cashman said the best players will make the team but if it’s deemed Torres requires more experience and extra time to get the left arm right it would be silly not to send him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The Yankees have five players with less than five years of major league service who
are out of options. The only one in danger of switching organizations is Chasen Shreve and that isn’t likely to happen based on what he has done in three seasons and Wade LeB
lanc, a non-roster invite, as the only other lefty reliever in camp who could challenge Shreve for a spot. And at $825,000 Shreve isn’t expensive.
Joining Shreve in that category is Dellin Be
tances, Gary Sanchez, Aaron Hicks and Austin Romine. Betances has been an All-Star the past four seasons, Sanchez is the Yankees’ best all-around hitter, Hicks is the starting center fielder and Romine is a very solid backup catcher to Sanchez.
“It doesn’t mean anything that I am out of options. My mindset is pitch the best I can,’’ said the 27-year-old left-hander who was 4-1 with a 3.77 ERA a year ago in 44 games. He worked nine games at SWB.