Gleyber Torres continues hot start as he awaits Yanks' call
By Scott Thompson | Apr 18 | 7:30PM
It isn't an "if" Gleyber Torres will be called up to the Yankees. With infield struggling continuing, it's turned into "when."
Torres has been raking with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 21-year-old returned to the lineup Tuesday after back tightness had him out a couple games, and he didn't miss a beat going 1-for-2 with two walks and a sac fly.
The 21-year-old is hitting .372 with a homer, triple, three double, and 11 RBI over 12 games so far this season, which begs the question of when New York's top prospect will see his major league debut.
He didn't make the big league roster when camp broke this spring due to bad plate appearances. However, with the Yankes needing a spark at second and third base at the moment, Torres seems to be back to his normal self.
But what if he struggles the same way current young Yankees like Miguel Andujar and Tyler Wade have to start the season? Andujar has come along of late with back-to-back multi-hit games. But he is still 9-for-43 since taking over for Brandon Drury, who is on the DL with migraine issues. Wade has been replaced by Neil Walker at second, but both players have not hit well so far.
RailRiders manager Bobby Mitchell has seen Torres in action, and he's sure his impact will be felt immediately when he is called up.
"Oh, yeah, for sure," Mitchell told The Post's Dan Martin. "He'll be around a long time and hopefully he's a star up there. ... You see his ability and potential are off the charts. Once he's up there and adjusts, he'll stay there."
The Yankees won't jump the gun on Torres, though. They want to make sure he's ready to make the big-league jump.
"We want to make sure he's ready," Mitchell said. "Right now, it's all about winning up there. It's not about development. And I think he will help."
Torres is coming off a 2017 campaign that was cut short due to an errant slide into home that led to a torn UCL in his non-throwing elbow that required Tommy John surgery to repair. GM Brian Cashman wouldn't let him play winter ball even though Torres felt he could. It was precautionary, and though it wasn't what the young infielder had in mind, Torres accepted it.
"He had to deal with the frustration a little bit," Mitchell said. "There's always disappointment. That's normal. He was so rusty from not having played much last year, and we tried to make it clear that he just needed playing time. He's bought into it."
Patience has paid off for Torres, who is lighting up the minor leagues just as he has in the past. Mitchell notes how pitchers understand the threat he can be at the plate, and pitchers have to work carefully with him. In doing so, Torres has been getting better at hitting offspeed pitches to go along with his natural ability to square up fastballs.
"He's getting pitched to very differently now with the hype and the way he's been hitting," Mitchell said. "It's good for him, because he's seeing more offspead pitches. He already crushes fastballs, so this will help him make the adjustment to becoming a more complete hitter."
Torres will continue to be patient as he awaits his much-anticipated call up to the bigs.
"Everyone has been talking about him, creating these expectations," Mitchell noted. "He reads it. I think he has a really good shot and he's handling the attention fine. Obviously, there's a lot of anticipation for him and he feels it, too."
