Gleyber Torres is producing for Yankees and is promoted to the top of the line

Gleyber Torres has proved that he’s returning to the place the Yankees are most in need of him.

By Mark W. Sanchez

Aug 24, 2024 04:56 AM

 

 

Was Aaron Boone’s first attempt at picking a leadoff hitter the right answer?

Since the last week, Gleyber has claimed that he’s back in the spot the Yankees need him the most.

The second baseman began the season by batting firstin a high-pressure position in front of Juan Soto and Aaron Judge -He had a difficult time.

He scored .200 with an .521 OPS in his first dozen games. In game 13 He was at the bottom of the line and fast Anthony Volpe had risen.

But Volpe stalled. As did Ben Rice and Alex Verdugo. Since August. 16 with a victory against Detroit, Boone bumped Torres back to the top of the lineup and the most recent leadoff method has been successful.

Torres is an .406 on-base percentage over seven games since he stepped back to the top of the lineup.

After a night of 1-for-4 Friday, he’s 7-for-26 (.269) with five strikeouts and six walks and battling through long fights, even the plate games that don’t end with a flourish.

In Thursday’s victory over Guardians, Torres singled to left, then struck out swinging on the sixth pitch of an at-bat. He then walked in a dogfight of 10 pitches walking in eight pitches before striking out.

In five plate appearances the No. 1 hitter took in 31 pitches.

His coach did not believe Torres has changed his tactics after the lineup change however Boone was pleased Torres continued to show promise over a long streak.

“I think he’s just a really good hitter that’s kind of had some struggles this year,” Boone stated about Torres who has his average .664 OPS that is damaged by a bad start to two weeks. “For the better part of over a month, more consistent at-bats.”

“I think throughout the season he’s been doing a great job using the strike zone even when he’s faced some difficulties. There are a lot of long at-bats — he’s still continuing to improve his technique.”

Torres claimed he doesn’t feel any pressure hitting in front of two of the top players in the game.

Pitchers will likely pitch him differently during the time Soto and Judge will follow as well. Torres has said that he could see some more fastballs than normal.

However, he believes that the overall increase in his performance has resulted from a constant work on his swing, not his place in the lineup.

“The last, I guess, couple weeks, I feel I’ve gotten better,” said Torres who led the Yankees winning 3-0 against The Rockies on the road in The Bronx with a roped double. He extended his 18-game streak of on-base where he’s hitting .275.

“Just trying to put 100% into every at-bat and … try to pass the baton to the other guys behind me.”

Second baseman Soto is scheduled to be a free agent by the conclusion of the season. He has stated that his desire to rejoin the Yankees however, this is not certain given how much money is expected to go to keeping Soto.

Torres his walk year statistically is his worst and also included a suspension after Torres did not get his bat in the right place on a ball that he believed to be a homerun but turned out to be as a single.

A surge in the final weeks of the season from Torres could be a big deal for him. It could also make a difference for a team who has turned over a lot of rocks to find a leadoff hitter who is reliable.

“He’s an important part of this,” Boone stated about Torres who ranked eleventh MLB among hitters who are qualified in averaging 4.22 pitching per appearance. He also was able to shake off the foul ball that he drove in his right leg. “He’s an example of players who really extends the lineup] when he’s right.

“And it feels like he’s stringing a lot of really good at-bats together now, which is really encouraging.”