Gleyber pains
Bombers put hurtin’ on Braves, then have to put Torres on disabled list
The Yankees announced after Wednesday's 6-2 victory over Atlanta that stud rookie infielder Gleyber Torres would go on the 10-day disabled list with a right hip strain. The 21-year-old Torres started Wednesday's game at second base, but exited before the start of the fifth inning and was replaced at second by Neil Walker.
“It is a mild strain. We're gonna put Gleyber on the disabled list. We're hoping it's a short stint,” Yankee manager Aaron Boone said late Wednesday afternoon. “We've got to do it at this time just 'cause there is a small strain in there. Hopefully it won't be something that's too long and probably'll take us up to the All-Star break. Any time you're talking about a groin, hamstring, quads – once you have a strain in there, you push through it, you can make it a worse strain. Then you're talking weeks and months.”
Boone said he thought Torres might have tweaked the hip during his second at-bat Wednesday, when Torres struck out swinging against Braves starter Julio Teheran. Torres struck out both times swinging in his only two at-bats of the game, in the second and fourth innings. Both at-bats were against Teheran. Boone also said Torres' hip discomfort could have started a few nights ago when Torres was running the bases.
Torres was bothered by his right hip Tuesday, and Boone did not put him in the starting lineup against Atlanta, although Torres entered Tuesday's game late as a defensive replacement. Boone said before Wednesday's game that he had no concerns about Torres' hip, and the skipper was confident inserting Torres as the starting second baseman for the series finale against the Braves.
With the Yankees about to embark on an 11-game road trip Friday, Boone said Walker “will get the bulk of the work there at second,” but Boone added that he and the Yankee front office will discuss other options. Tyler Wade, currently with the Triple-A RailRiders, is one possibility at second, Boone said. Brandon Drury could play the position too, although Boone labeled Drury an “emergency” option at second. Drury hasn't played second since he was acquired by the Bombers in a February trade, and he dealt with headaches and blurred vision earlier this season.
“We'll use today and the off day (Thursday) to work through and make the best decision for our roster,” said Boone. “But (Wade) is definitely in the conversation. (Drury) might start at least getting some work in over there (at second), just to cover us if we got in a situation.”
Drury played 114 games at second for Arizona last season. He replaced
Walker at third Wednesday after Torres left the game. Boone said he wasn't sure if the team could use infielder Ronald Torreyes, who is on the temporary inactive list with the team's Triple-A affiliate. Torreyes is dealing with a family issue.
Torres is currently batting .294 with 15 homers and 42 RBI. Before the DL announcement, Boone said he was “not overly concerned” about Torres' injury. Now, the manager and the Yankees have to hope it's only a minor blip in Torres' impressive rookie season.
“Hopefully he's all right,” said Greg Bird of Torres after the game. “We need him. He's going to be a big part of this. He's obviously shown what he can do in big situations.”