Somewhere deep inside the Yankee clubhouse, Didi Gregorius is vigorously searching through his emoji keyboard to find the perfect fit for the newest Bronx Bomber, Gleyber Torres.
The 21-year-old budding star was reportedly informed of his call-up to the Major League roster after being pulled during the third inning of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s game on Saturday. Torres is expected to to be with the team for Sunday’s game against the Blue Jays.
Torres has been off to a torrid start this season in the minors entering Saturday’s game batting .370 with a home run and 11 RBIs, but before GleyberMania takes over, let’s take a closer look at Major League Baseball’s preseason No. 5 overall prospect:
GLEY-BURR or GLAY-BAR?
Survey Says: GLAY-burr is how Kay & Sterling SHOULD be pronouncing his name going forward, but I’m sure there will be more than a few funny sound bytes to look back on in the coming weeks.
Where will he play:
Expect to see Torres at multiple positions before eventually finding at a permanent home at either second or third base. The versatile infielder has been taking reps at third after Brandon Drury’s migraine issues surfaced and Miguel Andujar struggled early at the plate (although he has been on fire the past few games).
Should Drury return healthy and productive, Torres could take over second base where Neil Walker and Tyler Wade have not been able to secure the position due to poor offensive performances. If Andujar stays hot, it will be interesting to see how Aaron Boone utilizes the combination of Andujar, Drury, and Torres.
Where will he be slotted in the batting order:
Torres could be the eventual replacement for Brett Gardner in the leadoff spot, but he certainly has the potential to hit in the heart of the order (see the offensive evolution of one Sir Didi). For this season, however, Torres will probably be slotted towards the bottom of the order to get his reps against tired arms and the underbelly of team’s bullpens. An interesting move would be to slot him ninth if he shows the ability to be effective on the bases.
Injury History:
Unfortunately, Torres missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery after tearing the UCL in his left elbow. But the good news: he appears to have fully recovered and has shown no signs of any lingering effects at the plate or in the field. It will be imperative for the team to keep a close eye on his arm and his swings as the season progresses and he puts more miles on his body than he ever has before.
Past Yankee Comparison:
Robinson Cano. Robbie best fits the bill here because of his combination of offense and defense to go along with a smooth swing and ability to hit to all fields. At 6’1” and 200 lbs., Torres probably has more raw, natural athleticism than Cano, but he lacks the size and strength to be compared to an Alex Rodriguez.
Bottom Line:
Gleyber Torres is a future staple in the Yankee lineup and infield. Fans should be excited to witness his debut in pinstripes, and hopefully he can serve as an immediate plug to one of the leaky infield positions.
Next up: Sterling’s home run call.
