Spring training brought the feel-good story of Anthony Volpe making the team. But spring training would not be described as feel good overall for the Yankees.
Notably they began the season with nine players on the injured list, tied with the Dodgers for the most in the majors. The worst of it was losing three-fifths of their rotation (Frankie Montas, Carlos Rodon, Luis Severino) plus a couple of key relievers (Tommy Kahnle and Lou Trivino) and their center fielder (Harrison Bader).
Yet, two series victories and one 4-2 homestand into the 2023 season the Yankees demonstrated the talent and depth to weather punches.
Gerrit Cole, in particular, has uplifted the shorthanded rotation with two ace outings, including riding his fastball to limit the Phillies to one run in 6 ¹/₃ innings in a Wednesday matinee 4-2 triumph.
The bullpen has yielded just four runs in 23 ²/₃ innings (1.52 ERA) even with Michael King trying to rediscover his best stuff. The entire pitching staff has benefitted from a defense that took three steps forward last season and appears to have taken no steps back in 2023.
And the top of the Yankee order, in particular, has been strong with DJ LeMahieu, Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo. Giancarlo Stanton has a couple of homers, including one that NORAD might still be tracking.
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But the best first-week gift for the Yankees has been just how good Gleyber Torres has been. As Cole said of the second baseman, “He’s kind of doing it all.” In the rubber game against the Phillies, Torres battled back from way down in the count against a pitcher who had previously dominated him (Aaron Nola) to deliver two RBI singles. He stole two more bases.
“He looks really good to me,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “Really, he looked good all spring training (the Phillies and Yankees play often because of the proximity between Clearwater and Tampa).”
There was doubt whether Torres would even make spring as a Yankee — or complete it once he did. He followed two lackluster seasons (2020-21) with a good, but not spectacular 2022. The Yankees had weighed trading him at the deadline during last season and again in winter since they appeared oversaturated in infield alternatives.
Torres decided to play Winter Ball in his native Venezuela with this goal to work upon: “Don’t strike out so much.” In 2022, Torres whiffed in 22.6 percent of his plate appearances, the most since he was a rookie while walking a career-low 6.8 percent of the time. He has six walks and two strikeouts so far, moving Aaron Boone to say, “Every at-bat has been super-competitive.”
That was exemplified Wednesday, when it was a surprise to even see him in the lineup. Stanton was 5-for-16 with two homers off Nola while Torres was hitless in nine at-bats with six strikeouts. But with Stanton in right field Tuesday night followed by a day game, Boone wanted to give his slugger a full day off. Plus, Boone said, “[Torres] is in a good place and he’s as good as anyone with an opportunity versus a good pitcher.”
With two outs in the first and Judge on first, Torres fell behind Nola 0-2, took a borderline pitch that Judge stole on, took another borderline pitch to make it 2-2, just stayed alive with an emergency hack for a foul ball and then broke his bat and dumped an RBI single to left.
After lining out in the fourth, Torres again came up with two outs in the sixth and again fell behind Nola 0-2 with LeMahieu at second. He fouled off two pitches and then grounded an RBI single to center. In the eighth, Torres doubled leading off to bring his batting average to .421 before he stole his MLB-high fifth base.
Boone talked about the maturity in Torres’ baserunning (he’s halfway to his total of 10 steals last year). But really his whole game appears sharper. Torres is just 26 and he is at least talking the talk of using the whole field (when he is best) and not getting pull happy. He insists this has nothing to do with wanting to prove himself through trade rumors which persisted up to Opening Day.
“I just want to be here a long time,” Torres said. “I feel home right here.”
Torres was essential in helping the Yankees not misstep out of the gate after all the injuries like, for example, the NL champion Phillies, who are now 1-5. He either is tied or leads the Yankees in hits, homers, RBIs, steals, walks, average and OPS. It is just one week, but it was a week to reiterate just how talented Torres is and can be.
“Hopefully,” Boone said, “we are seeing a guy just entering the prime of his career.”
