Gleyber likely now headed to Triple-A
TAMPA — Neil Walker in The Bronx almost certainly means Gleyber Torres will have to wait to see if he’ll be able to make an impact in the majors.
The 21-year-old has had a disappointing spring, going just 3-for-23 in Grapefruit League action, and Torres admitted he’s not hitting as well as he’d like — but he welcomed the addition of Walker.
“If the team tries to make t he team [ bette r ] , t hat’s the most important thing,” Torres said on Monday at George M. Ste i nbrenner Field. “If this guy helps the team, he hits pretty well, I’m happy for that.”
As for his own issues at the plate, Torres said his time off after suffering a torn UCL last season may have played a role.
“Everything is not right right now,” Torres said. “I’m working and trying to do my job. … It’s not that easy to have nine months [off ] and come back and play well right away. Right now, it’s not that good, but soon, it’s coming, for sure.”
He added that he’s felt more comfortable at the plate recently, despite the lack of results.
The Yankees can delay Torres’ free agency for a year if he stays in the minors until mid-April — which seemed likely even before Walker’s signing.
“I don’ t control that ,” Torres said of potentially heading back to Triple-A Scranton /Wilkes-Barre. “I control playing my game every day. I stay focused and humble and will try to help my team. I don’t know what’s gonna happen right now.”
And Tyler Wade, whose solid play this spring had put him in the conversation for second base on Opening Day, also took the Walker news in stride.
“It ’s a big bat fo r us,” Wade said of the switchhitting Walker. “If I play my game, everything takes care of itself.”
Wade has spent most of his time at second this spring, but has also played the outf ield, which could help him stick around in the majors — especially if Jacoby Ellsbury doesn’t recover from his oblique injury in time for the start of the regular season.
“I played the outfield for a full year in the minors, so I can do it,” Wade said.