While the Yankees are still negotiating to keep second baseman DJ LeMahieu, the team still plans to have Gleyber Torres defend the shortstop.
Bombers general manager Brian Cashman drew attention early in the off-season by noting that Torres was “not in the best shape” to start summer practice and that he projects better as a second baseman than a short stop.
There is no doubt that Torres’ return to his natural position was fraught with obstacles after making nine errors in the regular season and one in the postseason, saving -9 points for the defense. While the Bronx team had expected Torres’ glove to be a decrease compared to Didi Gregorius’s, the biggest surprise came with the attack, after Torres hit only three home runs in 136 at bats.
Like Dominican catcher Gary Sánchez, Cashman is ready to rule out the Strange 2020’s short season ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic. A healthy Torres is expected to return to the level he demonstrated with the bat in 2019, while continuing to work with infield coach Carlos Mendoza to polish up his fieldwork.
However, it’s also important to point out again that Torres is only 24 years old and has a pretty bright future.
“It was more than a criticism, it was to emphasize the fact: he didn’t come to practice in good shape,” Cashman said recently. “We worked the first 30 to 45 days to get it back up, but when we did it looked like 2019. I think the pandemic was tough … For some it created conditions that some could do better than others. I think Gleyber Torres is an elite player ”.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com