The offseason is officially in full swing with a flurry of moves taking place over the past week. The Yankees have stayed relatively quiet for now, though they have reportedly found a trading partner for Brian McCann. Despite a somewhat calm week, we still have you covered with an update on how the Yankee prospects are handling the AFL. These AFL roundups usually highlight all — or most — of the prospects the Yankees sent to Arizona, but this week I want to focus on one player in particular: Gleyber Torres.
I feel as though I have constantly mentioned Torres’s name this offseason. If I did, it was for good reason. The 19-year-old standout shortstop continues to tear apart the AFL. This past week was no different as he went 8 for 15 with two walks, raising his slash line to a mind-boggling .379/.500/.621. That adds up to a 1.121 OPS, ranking him 2nd among AFL players. He is also tied for 1st in batting average (he would be the youngest player to lead the AFL in BA), first in OBP, and second in SLG%. Those numbers put Torres firmly in the race for AFL MVP honors. The last Yankee to win the AFL MVP? Greg Bird in 2014. This is different. Greg Bird was 22 in 2014. Torres is nineteen. 1. 9.
It should also be noted that Torres’ plate discipline is remarkable for someone his age. Okay, everything he does is remarkable for his age. But still. His understanding of the strike zone might be the most impressive part of his game. He currently has a 2:1 walk-to-strikeout ratio in 17 AFL games, and the fourth fewest strikeouts among players who have appeared in 17+ AFL games. Simply put: Gleyber Torres is really, really good. Not impressed? Listen to Reggie Jackson discuss Gleyber Torres:
The kid is special.
Photo: Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports