The New York Yankees have been patient with former All-Star second baseman Gleyber Torres as he struggles through a critical contract year. Unlike Juan Soto, who is thriving in all aspects of the game, Torres is facing the opposite scenario.
Recently, Torres has seen his position in the batting order fall, landing at eighth this past Sunday. In 61 games, he has posted a batting average of .230, an on-base percentage of .308, and a slugging percentage of .324, along with four home runs and 16 RBIs. His strikeout rate stands at 24.3%, with a walk rate of 9.6% and a weighted runs created plus (wRC+) of 87, indicating he is performing 13% below the average MLB hitter.
This season is shaping up to be one of the most disappointing of the 27-year-old’s career, potentially costing him significantly in terms of future contract value. Despite these challenges, there remains a substantial portion of the season for Torres to improve his statistics and change his trajectory.
The Yankees Need More From Gleyber Torres
Torres’s difficulties aren’t confined to his offensive output; his defensive performance has also been lacking, with -3 defensive runs saved and a fielding percentage of .967 over 525.1 innings at second base.
However, there was a moment of potential turnaround during Sunday’s game against the San Francisco Giants—a game overshadowed by Soto’s outstanding performance. In the ninth inning, Torres hit a single to center, successfully getting on base. This set the stage for Jose Trevino, who reached base due to a fielder’s choice on a ground ball, eventually scoring on an Anthony Volpe triple.
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Should Torres manage to regain his form, the Yankees’ lineup, which already features the powerful duo of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, could become one of the most formidable in the league. Despite this potential, the Yankees seem prepared to allow Torres to enter free agency, particularly as they consider investing heavily in a long-term deal to keep Soto in pinstripes permanently.