Looking back, the fate of the New York Yankees and certain pieces to the puzzle have turned a successful corner. Gleyber Torres is one of those pieces. His adjustments along with others were contributors to the team making it to the biggest stage in Major League Baseball, the World Series.
A few Yankees players were struggling, others were on the chopping block earlier in the season. Giancarlo Stanton was off to a slow start while Yankees closer at the time, Clay Holmes was causing massive concern.
The Yankee’s right side of the infield was very concerning from an offensive standpoint. Oswaldo Cabrera remained quiet with the bat, while Anthony Rizzo’s name entered trade talks when his struggles fermented before the injury.
The one name that was very poorly bold to Yankees analysts was infielder Gleyber Torres. Torres was amongst the names to be traded before the deadline, due to a lack of contribution. Months later, Torres turned a 180-degree pivot to a postseason benefit.
Gleyber Torres Proves Doubters Wrong This Postseason
The Torres we know in pinstripes was not the Torres that took the field from April to August 2024. April was not a huge panic, as the season just started. May and June were when the questions started to arise.
In May, Torres slashed a .240/.327/.417, recording 23 hits, 10 RBI, 25 strikeouts and 13 walks. June was even uglier, slashing a .218/.276/.414. He struck out a disgusting 22 times while only walking seven times.
This type of performance is unheard of with the bat of Torres. In his 2018 and 2019 seasons, Torres put up an all-star season. His 2018 selection brought 24 home runs, 77 RBI, and a .480 slugging percentage.
His 2022 and 2023 seasons also displayed some good run production, slugging percentage, and overall offensive contribution.
This year in June, Torres was even highlighted for not hustling out a play on the base pads in a key crucial situation. Despite the reasoning behind it, Torres was benched to “rest and reset”. Things from this point on were not looking up for the infielder.
From Trade Talks to a Reliable Turn Around
No one was expecting the Yankees to continue to employ Torres after the trade deadline. Fortunately, New York kept him and moved him over to second base. This was in his best defensive interest.
This made space for a favor to be fulfilled by newly acquired Jazz Chisholm Jr. who they asked to play third base. Torres was not exactly happy about the move, but he embraced the move and looked forward. He developed and put the work in. This slowly changed the tune for Torres.
In mid-August, Torres made a case for himself. His numbers increased and he was moved back up to the lead-off spot. He ended August 2024 with a .276/.363/.357. He recorded eight RBI on 27 hits, along with 14 walks.
Torres’ Postseason Performance Seen as Value
Torres’ postseason performance has not been overwhelmingly impressive in terms of statistics. However, what Yankees management and analysts focus on are his contributions during the games. The second baseman has played in 13 postseason games this year and has consistently been positioned at the top of the lineup.
As the Yankees’ leadoff hitter, Torres has fulfilled his role effectively by getting on base, advancing runners, and scoring runs. He has done an excellent job leading off, setting the stage for the core of the team.
In 53 postseason at-bats, he has recorded 14 hits, eight RBI, two home runs, and 10 walks, while striking out only six times. He has scored 10 runs for the Yankees and has a slash line of .264/.375/.434.
In a crucial game four against the Dodgers, Torres delivered under pressure, going two for five with a hit, a home run, three RBIs, and one run scored. His performance helped lead the Yankees to an 11-4 victory, extending the series. Ultimately, the decision to keep Torres was the right one, considering his talent, comfort level, and experience in the Bronx and during the postseason. His adjustments have added significant value to the lineup.
Main Photo: © Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
