Although the Yankees are still negotiating to keep second base DJ LeMahieu, the team intends to have Gleyber Torres defend him on the shortstop.
Bombers general manager Brian Cashman drew attention at the start of the season, noting that Torres was “not in the best shape” to start Summer Training and that he projects better as a second baseman than a shortstop.
There is no doubt that Torres’ return to his natural position was full of obstacles after he made nine errors in the regular season and one in the postseason, to record -9 saves saved in defense. Although the Bronx team had expected Torres ‘glove to be a drop compared to Didi Gregorius’, the biggest surprise came in the offense, after Torres hit just three rounds from home in 136 bats.
Like Dominican catcher Gary Sánchez, Cashman is willing to rule out the short 2020 weird season for 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 field coach Carlos Mendoza of Venezuela to polish his field.
However, it is also important to emphasize again that Torres is only 24 years old, with a pretty bright future.
“More than a critique, it highlighted a fact: he didn’t come to training in good shape,” Cashman said recently. “I spent the first 30-45 days working to bring it back to its level, but when I did, it looked like 2019. I think the pandemic was difficult … For some it created circumstances that some managed to solve. better than others. I think Gleyber Torres is an elite player. “
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com