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No Didi, no problem: Torreyes off to hot start

When Didi Gregorius suffered a shoulder injury while playing for Team Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic, the Yankees found themselves in serious trouble.

With the 27-year-old out for at least the first month of the regular season, who would fill in at shortstop? There were a few different options, but none were ideal.

Many Yankees fans hoped the team would turn to Gleyber Torres or Tyler Wade, as both youngsters played well in spring training. However, neither of them had played an inning in Triple-A, and there was no need to rush them up to the Show.

Brian Cashman received calls from other general managers looking to send a shortstop to New York, but it could’ve cost the Yankees a top prospect.

After a few days, the team ultimately settled on Ronald Torreyes, last season’s utility man, to fill in for the injured Gregorius. The 24-year-old’s Major League experience and respectable defense is what gave him the edge, as he wasn’t expected to hit much, if at all.

Of course, baseball isn’t a huge fan of preconceived notions.

Case in point: last night. Torreyes became the first Yankee to hit a home run in 2017, as his 2-run shot off Jake Odorizzi in the 3rd jumpstarted what had been a sluggish Yankees lineup on Opening Day. The Yankees went on to win 5-0, evening their record at 1-1.

“I don’t think a whole lot of us would’ve bet on that (home run), but he played an incredible game tonight, some really good defensive plays,” manager Joe Girardi told the Daily News.

Not a whole lot of us would’ve bet on Torreyes in general. An international signing by the Cincinnati Reds in 2010, Torreyes climbed the minor league totem pole as he was traded to the Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays, and Los Angeles Dodgers.

After making his Major League debut in September 2015, the Dodgers traded him to the Yankees last January along with lefty Tyler Olson in exchange for infielder Rob Segedin. However, just three days later, the Yankees designated Torreyes for assignment.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim claimed Torreyes off waivers on January 25th, but he was again DFA’ed. The Yankees claimed him back on January 27th, and he ended up making the 2016 Opening Day roster.

Since then, Torreyes has emerged as a surprisingly reliable utility man and is now the Yankees starting shortstop for at least the month of April. His young career has already been quite the roller coaster, but if last night was any indication, perhaps “LilTo”, as his teammates affectionately call him, has found a stable home in New York.