Gleyber Torres is a highly talented baseball player who has made a name for himself in the sport. He was signed by the Chicago Cubs in 2013 and traded to the New York Yankees in 2016.
Torres was highly regarded as a top prospect in baseball even before he made his Major League debut in 2018.
This essay will explore the question, “Was Gleyber Torres a top prospect?” by examining his early career, his skill set, his ranking among other top prospects, his achievements in the Major Leagues, and his potential for future success.
Gleyber Torres’ Early Career
Gleyber Torres was born on December 13, 1996, in Caracas, Venezuela. He grew up in a baseball-loving family and started playing the sport at a young age. He was signed by the Chicago Cubs as an international free agent in 2013 at the age of 16.
Torres made his professional debut in 2014 in the Arizona League, where he played shortstop and hit .297 with three home runs and 16 RBIs in 34 games.
He then moved up to the Class-A Short Season in 2015 and hit .293 with three home runs and 22 RBIs in 55 games.
In 2016, he played for the Class-A Advanced Myrtle Beach Pelicans and hit .275 with nine home runs and 47 RBIs in 94 games.
He was then traded to the New York Yankees as part of a deal that sent closer Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs.
Torres was quickly recognized as a top prospect in the game after his strong performances in the minor leagues. In 2016, he was ranked as the No. 41 prospect in baseball by Baseball America.
He continued to impress in 2017, hitting .309 with two home runs and 16 RBIs in 23 games for the Double-A Trenton Thunder before being promoted to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
He hit .287 with seven home runs and 34 RBIs in 55 games for the RailRiders before suffering a season-ending injury to his left elbow in June.
Despite the injury, Torres was still widely regarded as one of the top prospects in the game. In fact, he was ranked as the No. 2 prospect in all of baseball by Baseball America, behind only Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels, in 2018.
Analysis of Torres’ Skill Set
Torres’ strengths as a player include his well-rounded skill set. He is a solid hitter who has the ability to hit for both average and power, as evidenced by his .268 batting average and 38 home runs in his first three seasons in the Major Leagues.
He also possesses excellent defensive skills and versatility, having played shortstop, second base, and third base at the Major League level. Additionally, Torres has a high baseball IQ, which allows him to make smart plays and decisions on the field.
One of Torres’ weaknesses is his tendency to strike out too much. He has struck out in 24.9% of his plate appearances in his career, which is higher than the league average.
Additionally, while he has shown some flashes of defensive brilliance, he has also made some costly errors at times.
Finally, Torres could improve his baserunning skills, as he has been caught stealing on nearly half of his attempts in his career.
When compared to other top prospects in baseball, Torres ranks near the top in terms of his overall skill set. He has been compared to players such as Francisco Lindor and Javier Baez, both of whom are established stars in the Major Leagues.
However, Torres has also been criticized for not living up to his lofty prospect status, especially in terms of his strikeout rate and defensive play.
Ranking of Gleyber Torres Among Prospects
There are several prospect ranking systems used by baseball analysts and experts to evaluate and compare the top prospects in the game. Some of the most well-known systems include Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, and FanGraphs.
These rankings take into account factors such as a player’s age, performance in the minor leagues, potential for future success, and the overall depth of talent in the prospect pool.
Gleyber Torres was consistently ranked as one of the top prospects in baseball prior to his Major League debut in 2018.
In 2016, he was ranked as the No. 41 prospect in baseball by Baseball America. The following year, he was ranked as the No. 5 prospect by Baseball America, the No. 3 prospect by MLB Pipeline, and the No. 2 prospect by FanGraphs.
Torres continued to be highly regarded in 2018, ranking as the No. 5 prospect by Baseball America and the No. 3 prospect by MLB Pipeline.
In comparison to other highly ranked prospects, Torres was considered to be among the best of the best. In 2017, he was ranked behind only Yoan Moncada and Andrew Benintendi by MLB Pipeline.
Similarly, he was ranked behind only Ronald Acuna Jr. and Shohei Ohtani by FanGraphs in 2018. While there were other highly touted prospects in each of these years, Torres’ consistent ranking near the top of these lists was a testament to his elite potential and talent.
Gleyber Torres’ Achievements in the Majors
Since making his Major League debut in 2018, Gleyber Torres has been a key contributor to the New York Yankees. In his first three seasons, he has hit .268 with 60 home runs, 198 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases in 353 games.
He has been a solid defensive player, showcasing his versatility by playing shortstop, second base, and third base.
Torres has also been a key performer in the postseason, hitting .342 with 2 home runs and 10 RBIs in 13 playoff games.
Torres’ statistics and achievements in the Major Leagues are impressive, especially for a player who just turned 25 years old. He was an All-Star in 2018 and 2019, and he received MVP votes in both of those seasons.
Torres has also been a clutch performer, hitting 13 home runs and driving in 37 runs in his career with runners in scoring position and two outs.
His overall career WAR (Wins Above Replacement) is 7.3, which is impressive for a player who has only been in the Major Leagues for three seasons.
Torres has the potential for future success in the Major Leagues. He is still just 25 years old, which means he has plenty of time to continue developing his skills and becoming an even better player.
His ability to hit for both average and power, coupled with his solid defensive skills and versatility, make him a valuable asset for the Yankees.
Torres’ high baseball IQ and ability to make smart plays on the field also bode well for his future success.
If he can continue to improve his strikeout rate and defensive play, he has the potential to become one of the premier players in all of baseball.
Gleyber Torres’ Career Stats in the Major Leagues
| Season | Team | Games Played | Batting Average | Home Runs | RBIs | Stolen Bases |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | NYY | 123 | .271 | 24 | 77 | 6 |
| 2019 | NYY | 144 | .278 | 38 | 90 | 5 |
| 2020 | NYY | 42 | .243 | 3 | 16 | 6 |
| 2021 | NYY | 44 | .252 | 5 | 15 | 0 |
| Career | NYY | 353 | .268 | 60 | 198 | 17 |
Note: Stats are accurate as of the end of the 2021 MLB season.
The table shows Gleyber Torres’ career statistics in the Major Leagues, including his batting average, home runs, RBIs, and stolen bases. It also includes the number of games he played each season and the team he played for.
The “Career” row shows his cumulative stats over the course of his Major League career with the New York Yankees.
FAQs
What position does Gleyber Torres play?
Torres is primarily a middle infielder, with experience at both shortstop and second base. He has also played some third base in his career.
What is Gleyber Torres’ nationality?
Torres is from Venezuela and is a Venezuelan citizen.
How did Gleyber Torres get into baseball?
Torres started playing baseball as a child in Venezuela and was scouted by the Chicago Cubs at the age of 16. He was signed as an international free agent by the Cubs in 2013 and began his professional career in their minor league system.
Has Gleyber Torres won any awards in his career?
Yes, Torres has been an All-Star twice (in 2018 and 2019) and has received MVP votes in both of those seasons. He was also named the Arizona Fall League MVP in 2016.
What is Gleyber Torres’ contract status with the New York Yankees?
Torres is currently under team control with the Yankees through the 2024 season, meaning that he is not eligible for free agency until after the 2024 season.
Conclusion
Gleyber Torres has proven himself to be an exceptional baseball player, both in the minor leagues and in the Major Leagues. As a highly touted prospect, he lived up to the expectations placed upon him and quickly became an integral part of the New York Yankees’ success.
His ability to hit for both average and power, coupled with his solid defensive skills and versatility, make him a valuable asset for the team.
With his potential for continued growth and development, it is clear that Torres has a bright future ahead of him in the Major Leagues.
