The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Torres 0 for 4, but ‘super excited’
NEW YORK — Gleyber Torres had a tough time at the plate in his first major league game.
The prized prospect went 0 for 4 and stranded six runners during his highly anticipated debut for the New York Yankees, who nonetheless cruised to a 5-1 victory Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays.
“I feel good. Super excited,” Torres said afterward.
The 21-year-old infielder played second base and batted eighth in a Yankees lineup that didn’t include a player 30 or older for the first time since Sept. 29, 1989, according to STATS.
Rated among the top five or six prospects in baseball, Torres became the youngest position player to appear in a game for the Yankees since 20-yearold Melky Cabrera in 2005. Atlanta second baseman Ozzie Albies, also 21, is the only major leaguer younger than Torres to play in a game this season.
“We just feel like he’s ready,” New York manager Aaron Boone said. “We think he has a chance to be a special player.”
The crowd at Yankee Stadium buzzed when Torres came to the plate for the first time with two runners in scoring position in the second inning. He received a warm ovation, then struck out swinging at an 82 mph curveball from left-hander Jaime Garcia for the second out.
With two on in the fourth, Torres grounded into an inning-ending double play. He also fouled out and flied out.
“Steps in the right direction I thought each time. Just didn’t impact the ball yet,” Boone said.
On defense, Torres started an inning-ending double play in the sixth.
Torres was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre, where he was hitting .347 with a home run, three doubles, one triple and 11 RBIs. He got the news Saturday from Rail Riders manager Bobby Mitchell, with his teammates around to take part in the celebration.
“A little bit surprised. Excited, and super happy,” Torres said. “I think every player has their dreams.”
Torres can play all over the infield, but for now Boone said the club plans to play him on a regular basis at second base, which has been a problem spot this season. New York hopes Torres can provide a boost for a team that’s been shoddy on defense and inconsistent overall.
Boone said Torres, one of four players acquired from the Chicago Cubs in July 2016 for Aroldis Chapman, doesn’t have a specific tool that will “wow” anyone, such as prodigious power or blazing speed. But he possesses an excellent sense of how to play the game.
“He’s a really complete player,” Boone said. “He does everything really well on a baseball field.”