Gleyber Torres is a professional baseball player who currently plays second base for the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Born in Venezuela in 1996, Torres has quickly become one of the most recognizable names in the sport due to his impressive performance on the field.
While he has had some ups and downs in his career so far, Torres’ potential as a star player is undeniable.
In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at what happened to Gleyber Torres throughout his career, including his struggles at shortstop, his move back to second base, and his recent performance at the plate.
Early Career
Gleyber Torres was signed by the Chicago Cubs as an international free agent in 2013, and he began his professional career in the minor leagues.
He quickly made a name for himself as one of the Cubs’ top prospects, and he was eventually traded to the Yankees in 2016 as part of a deal for relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman.
Torres continued to excel in the minor leagues, and he made his major league debut with the Yankees in April 2018. He played third base in his debut game, but he quickly transitioned to second base, which became his primary position.
Torres had a strong rookie season in 2018, batting .271 with 24 home runs and 77 RBIs in 123 games. He was named to the American League All-Star team, becoming the youngest Yankees player to make an All-Star team since Derek Jeter in 1996.
He also finished third in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. His impressive performance helped the Yankees reach the playoffs, although they were eventually eliminated in the American League Division Series by the Boston Red Sox.
Struggles at Shortstop
Following the departure of Didi Gregorius in the offseason, the Yankees moved Gleyber Torres from second base to shortstop in 2019. While Torres had played shortstop in the minor leagues, he had primarily played second base in the majors up until this point.
Unfortunately, Torres struggled defensively at shortstop, particularly with errors. He committed 11 errors in his first 42 games at the position, leading the league in that category at the time.
This was a significant increase from his error total at second base in the previous season.
Torres’ defensive struggles at shortstop were widely criticized by fans and the media. Some argued that the move to shortstop was premature, and that Torres needed more time to develop his defensive skills.
Others criticized his work ethic and suggested that he needed to put in more effort to improve his defense. Overall, it was a challenging time for Torres, as he was expected to be a key player for the Yankees, but his struggles at shortstop were holding him back.
Return to Second Base
After his struggles at shortstop, the Yankees moved Gleyber Torres back to his original position of second base in September 2019. The move proved to be beneficial for Torres, as he performed much better defensively at second base, committing only one error in the remainder of the season.
With the move back to second base, Torres was also able to focus more on his hitting, which had been a strength for him throughout his career. Despite the position change and the defensive struggles, Torres continued to hit well at the plate.
In fact, he hit a clutch home run in the ninth inning of the final game of the regular season to help the Yankees clinch the American League East division title.
Overall, Torres’ move back to second base was a success, and he was able to bounce back from his defensive struggles at shortstop. He finished the 2019 season with a .278 batting average, 38 home runs, and 90 RBIs, cementing his status as one of the most promising young players in the league.
2020 Season
The 2020 baseball season was significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the regular season shortened from 162 games to just 60 games. Despite the unusual circumstances, the Yankees had high hopes for Gleyber Torres, who was expected to be a key player for the team.
Unfortunately, Torres struggled at the plate during the shortened season, batting just .243 with only 3 home runs and 16 RBIs in 42 games. This was a significant drop in production compared to his strong performance in 2019.
Torres also faced criticism for his defense at second base, with some suggesting that he had regressed in that area since his move back to the position in 2019.
While it’s difficult to say how much of Torres’ struggles can be attributed to the unique circumstances of the 2020 season, it’s clear that he did not perform up to his usual standards.
Nonetheless, many fans and analysts remained confident in Torres’ ability to bounce back in future seasons.
2021 Season
During the 2021 season, Gleyber Torres showed signs of returning to his previous form. He played in 125 games, batting .253 with 18 home runs and 62 RBIs.
While his batting average was still lower than his rookie season in 2018, Torres’ power numbers were encouraging.
However, despite his improved offensive production, Torres still faced some criticism for his defense at second base. In particular, his range and footwork were questioned by some fans and analysts.
Nonetheless, the Yankees continued to have faith in Torres, and he remained an important part of the team’s plans moving forward.
Before the 2022 season, the Yankees made a significant move to address their infield defense. They acquired Isiah Kiner-Falefa from the Texas Rangers, with the intention of having him play shortstop.
This move allowed the Yankees to move Torres back to his more natural position of second base, where he had previously excelled.
Overall, the acquisition of Kiner-Falefa and the move back to second base was seen as a positive development for Torres, as it allowed him to focus on his strengths and hopefully improve his defense.
With the 2022 season underway, fans and analysts are eagerly watching to see how Torres performs in this new role, and whether he can regain his status as one of the top young players in the league.
Gleyber Torres’ Season Statistics (2018-2021)
| Season | Team | Games Played | At Bats | Runs | Hits | Home Runs | RBIs | Batting Average | On-Base Percentage | Slugging Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | NYY | 123 | 431 | 54 | 119 | 24 | 77 | .271 | .340 | .480 |
| 2019 | NYY | 144 | 546 | 96 | 147 | 38 | 90 | .278 | .337 | .535 |
| 2020 | NYY | 42 | 136 | 17 | 27 | 3 | 16 | .243 | .356 | .368 |
| 2021 | NYY | 149 | 539 | 88 | 138 | 35 | 86 | .258 | .329 | .507 |
This table displays Gleyber Torres’ key offensive statistics from the 2018 to 2021 seasons, including his number of games played, at bats, runs scored, hits, home runs, RBIs, batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage.
This type of table allows for easy comparison of Torres’ performance across different seasons and can help identify trends and areas for improvement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Gleyber Torres’ background before joining the Yankees?
Torres was born in Venezuela in 1996 and signed with the Chicago Cubs as an international free agent in 2013. He spent several years in the Cubs’ minor league system before being traded to the Yankees in 2016 as part of a deal for relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman.
How did Torres perform in the postseason during his time with the Yankees?
Torres has been a consistent performer for the Yankees in the postseason, with a career playoff batting average of .282 in 25 games. He also hit a clutch home run in the 2019 ALCS against the Houston Astros, helping the Yankees advance to the World Series.
What is Torres’ current contract status with the Yankees?
Torres is currently under team control with the Yankees through the 2024 season. After that, he will be eligible for arbitration and could become a free agent after the 2026 season.
What are some of Torres’ strengths as a player?
Torres is known for his powerful bat, which has produced 62 home runs and 199 RBIs in his first four seasons in the league. He also has good speed on the basepaths and has stolen 30 bases in his career. Additionally, he has shown the ability to play multiple positions in the infield, including shortstop and second base.
What are some areas of improvement for Torres?
While Torres has shown flashes of strong defensive play, he has also been criticized for his inconsistency in the field. He has committed 49 errors in his first four seasons in the league, which is a relatively high number for a middle infielder. Additionally, while he has shown good power at the plate, his batting average and on-base percentage could both stand to improve.
To Recap
Gleyber Torres has had a somewhat tumultuous career so far, with highs and lows both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
While he struggled at shortstop during the 2019 and 2020 seasons, Torres showed promising signs in his return to second base in 2019 and his offensive production in 2021.
The Yankees’ acquisition of Isiah Kiner-Falefa in 2022 allowed Torres to move back to second base, where he had previously excelled. It remains to be seen how Torres will perform in this new role, but his talent and potential as a player are undeniable.
With his combination of power, speed, and defensive ability, Torres has the potential to be one of the best players in the league for years to come.
