As the season advances, former All-Star Gleyber Torres’ chances of signing a long-term contract with the New York Yankees are in peril unless he can reverse his current performance patterns in the second half of the season.
Torres Struggles at the Plate
Torres is having the most difficult season of his career with the Yankees, with batting averages of.218 and an on-base percentage of.296. His slugging percentage has also dropped to.338 while hitting 77 home runs and driving in 29 RBIs for an 85 wRC+. This mass regression has a significant impact not just on his batting average and on-base percentage, but also on his slugging and confidence, both of which have dropped drastically.
Torres, despite his history of inconsistency, has shown the potential to be an All-Star every year. His unpredictable performance, however, has become a recurring problem for the Yankees since his debut in 2018.
Torres, on the other hand, had a breakout season in 2023, batting.273 with a.347 OBP and 25 home runs. His strikeout rate was previously the lowest in his career at 14.6%, but it has increased this season from 9% to 23.6%. This increase in strikeouts is a major worry because it signifies a regression from his prior year’s success.
The Yankees need Torres to step up.
With Giancarlo Stanton out for at least a month, Torres is under pressure to step up. He needs to go from a liability to a key offensive contributor. Despite his troubles, Torres has a.236 batting average with runners in scoring position this season, with a.303 OBP and.794 OPS.
However, his performance numbers raise concerns. He is ranked sixth in anticipated batting average (.208) and tenth in expected slugging (.338). Although he has an above-average pursuit rate and walk %, his barrel percentage is barely in the 37th percentile, and his hard-hit rate is a career-low 22nd percentile.
Potential adjustments and mental hurdles
Torres’ infield fly ball percentage has risen to 14.9% this season, the highest of his career, with a launch angle of 18.1°, the highest since his rookie year. This shows he may be getting beneath the ball too often, resulting in easy outs.
Addressing his swing to generate more drive rather than loft may be useful, but it appears that his issues are more mental than physical.
Torres has played 684 innings at second base this season, with a.963 fielding percentage and -3 defensive runs saved, indicating another subpar defensive season. Unless Torres improves substantially, the Yankees may have to accept that their second baseman is a burden rather than an asset by the end of the season.
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