Torres hungry to be a great player

TAMPA, Fla. — Gleyber Torres had what by any objective measure was a successful rookie season in 2018.

After being called up April 22, Torres, then 21 and one of the top prospects in the sport, seized the starting job at second base and never let go. Torres hit .271 with 24 homers and a .820 OPS in 123 games, finishing third in AL Rookie of the Year voting (behind Shohei Ohtani of the Angels, who finished first, and teammate Miguel Andujar).

Which engendered exactly zero contentment in Torres.

“I felt really proud what I did last year but this year is a new year,” Torres said Wednesday after the Yankees’ second full-squad workout of the spring. “All I want to do is improve upon that. I get here early every day to work hard because I don’t think I’ve earned anything. I want to earn my spot in this team.”

Barring something completely unforeseen, of course, Torres will be the starting second baseman on Opening Day against the Orioles in the Bronx and, on days veteran Troy Tulowitzki, should he make it through the spring healthy, is given off from short, Torres will play there.

Indeed, Torres’ roster spot is fairly secure.

He just didn’t approach the offseason that way.

Torres moved to the Tampa area over the winter and, by December, was showing up regularly at the Yankees’ minor league complex to work with infield coach Carlos Mendoza.

Torres, noticeably leaner this spring, also wanted to add muscle, and by all accounts he succeeded. He changed his diet — “More vegetables, try to eat a little more clean, more chicken, more salads, less fried food,” Torres said — and worked full time with a personal trainer from November through January.

“I focused on my body this offseason,” he said. “I wanted to put muscle on my body and (lower body fat) to be a little stronger this year so I can play in more games. I tried to prepare so I would have more stamina.”

Torres cooled in the season’s second half, in large part because of injury. He was hitting .294 with a .905 OPS July 4, but a day later was placed on the disabled list with a right hip strain.

Torres