GLEY’ BALL!
Rookie phenom makes return from DL
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Gleyber Torres returned to the Yankees’ lineup on Wednesday when he was activated from the 10-day disabled list.
“I played a couple of [minor league] games and didn’t feel anything, and I am ready to play,’’ said Torres, who played in three rehab games for Single-A Tampa.
He went 0-for-3, walked and scored a run in Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to the Rays.
Torres hadn’t played in a bigleague game since July 4, when he left a game against the Braves with a strained right hip. To make room for the right-handed hitting All-Star second baseman, the Yankees optioned utility infielder Tyler Wade to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
In 63 games Torres was hitting .294 with 15 homers and 42 RBIs when injured. He adds muscle to the Yankees’ lineup that Neil Walker, Brandon Drury and Wade didn’t provide while filling in.
Torres, 21, said there were a few occasions this year when he felt the hip problem, but didn’t say anything. Then it got to the point that he did.
“Sometimes you don’t say nothing, but after I felt it a couple of more times I told the trainer,’’ said Torres, who batted fifth against the Rays.
Wade started three games at second with Torres out and another at short and had a 3-for-5 game on July 11 against the Orioles, which included his first big league homer.
Noting that Wade can play second, short, third and the outfield in a pinch as well as pinch run, Boone said the Yankees are seeing the value of having a player with that versatility.
➤ Center fielder Aaron Hicks was out of the starting lineup for the second straight game due to a sore left shoulder, which he hurt sliding into second base on the final play of Monday night’s game against the Rays.
“It felt weak,’’ Hicks said of the shoulder when he woke up Tuesday.
Hicks said if needed he was available on Wednesday, and he hit for Walker in the seventh and stayed in the game as the DH, going 0-for-2. Afterward he said he was OK.
➤ Drury had a wrap on his left wrist after getting hit there by a pitch Tuesday night. X-rays taken during the game were negative.
“It’s sore but it’s better,’’ said Drury, who stated he was available to play Wednesday. ➤ Though he has Luis Severino, CC Sabathia, Masahiro Tanaka and Sonny Gray as established big league starters, Cashman was asked on a conference call Wednesday if he had thought about going the route of the Rays, who often use relievers to open games.
“The only thing we’re considering is trying to find a way to, first and foremost, win the division, and then, if not, make sure we punch a ticket to the postseason by the only other way, which is the wild card,’’ Cashman said.