Gleyber Torres is off to a torrid begin, and he believes worldwide competitors has one thing to do with that.
The Yankees’ second baseman missed a bit of spring coaching whereas suiting up for Venezuela within the World Baseball Classic. While Torres performed sparingly within the match — he went 1-for-10 — the Caracas native thinks the high-intensity video games put him forward of the curve by the point the common season started.
“It’s a little bit different than a normal spring,” Torres mentioned upon rejoining the Yankees on March 21. “I feel like those kinds of games and situations helped me because it’s like World Series, playoffs every day.”
But Torres additionally performed 11 video games within the Venezuelan Winter League in the course of the offseason. There, he slashed .289/.365/.378 with two homers, six RBI and 5 stolen bases for Leones del Caracas. More importantly, he used that point to repair “little things” in his swing whereas engaged on his potential to hit breaking balls and his endurance on the plate.
“Don’t strike out a lot,” Torres joked when requested what he sought to alter. He added that winter ball supplied alternatives to face veteran pitchers whereas bettering his strategy.
Now six video games into his 2023 season, it seems Torres’ tweaks are paying off. Yes, the pattern is small, however the 26-year-old is hitting .421/.560/.789 with one double, two residence runs and 6 RBI. Both residence runs have gone the other manner at Yankee Stadium; Torres is exhibiting a willingness to take what he’s on condition that he hasn’t all the time previously.
“It feels good,” Torres mentioned Wednesday after lining a double and selecting up two RBI singles within the Yankees’ 4-2 win over the Phillies. “I feel really comfortable every at-bat. I feel like I’ve got really good patience at home plate right now. I’m just not trying to do too much. Just trying to get the pitch I can do damage, and just try to have really good at-bats every time I go to home plate.”
Torres added that he feels “a little bit more relaxed” due to the gamers hitting round him.
That calmness has resulted in six walks, in comparison with simply two strikeouts. Torres didn’t choose up his sixth free move till May 16 final season.
“[He’s] just been really patient, under control at-bats,” Aaron Boone mentioned. “That’s what he’s capable of. We’ve seen that.”
What Yankees followers haven’t seen is Torres swiping luggage on the charge he’s proper now.
In addition to his manufacturing on the plate, Torres is 5-for-6 on stolen base makes an attempt. While he’s reached double-digits the final two years, he’s by no means stolen greater than 14 instances in a season (2021).
At this charge, Torres will simply surpass that private finest, and that’s no coincidence.
While baseball’s new guidelines — together with greater bases and restricted pick-off throws — have made a distinction, Torres attributed his elevated operating to the arrogance Boone has proven in him. The two talked about stealing extra in spring coaching, and Torres hung out practising the talent.
“He’s fearless on the basepaths, and instinctual,” Boone mentioned. “He’s doing a really good job of being patient. Obviously, [he’s] picking his spots wisely. I’ve just been really pleased with him on the bases so far this year. It’s absolutely been a factor, and it’s a credit to him working on different things and just continuing to gain experience and learn from things, because he is instinctual there. As he continues to gain experience with it, hopefully that continues to serve him well.”
So far, nearly the whole lot Torres is doing is serving himself nicely after a interval of uncertainty clouded his future with the Yankees.
The infielder took discover of commerce rumors final summer time and over the offseason, however he swears he’s not enjoying with a chip on his shoulder. He is motivated to stay in pinstripes, although, and he’s making a robust case to take action with an early-season efficiency that has Boone hoping the prime of Torres’ profession has arrived.
“I just want to be here [a] long time,” Torres mentioned. “I feel home right here. So if I have to do something better, I try to do it.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com