Gleyber Torres ‘back to where he was’ in plate approach

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The consequence was an out, however Gleyber Torres’ at-bat within the high of the third inning of Friday’s recreation in opposition to the Phillies confirmed a few of what’s completely different concerning the infielder this spring. 

After working the depend to full, Torres turned on a 94-mph sinker from Braeden Ogle and ripped it to 3rd, the place Alec Bohm caught the 106-mph shot. 

Torres has tried to get again to what made him one of the vital promising younger gamers — and finest gamers, interval — within the recreation in 2018 and 2019 after trying like a distinct hitter the previous two seasons. 

New hitting coach Dillon Lawson, who began working with Torres earlier than the beginning of the MLB lockout in December — because of Torres residing in Tampa — stated the primary focus of their work has been taking a look at what Torres did together with his decrease physique on the plate when he was exceeding expectations together with his energy, in comparison with what he did in 2020 and 2021, when he was usually left off-balance on the finish of swings. 

“I feel he’s again to the place he was a number of years in the past, when he was utilizing the entire area,” Lawson stated earlier than the Yankees misplaced to the Phillies, 6-5, at BayCare Ballpark. “He’s completed effective the previous couple years going to right-center, however the best way he’s going to right-center proper now’s with authority. And it’s not in a means that limits him to the pull facet. That’s stuff from ’18 and ’19.” 

And never like ’20 and ’21. 

“I’m making an attempt to be extra in management with that,” Torres stated. “Final 12 months, I hit too many floor balls making an attempt to drag the ball. Now I need to keep in management and hit the ball proper up the center, the identical as I did earlier than.” 

It’s all been a part of an eventful spring for Torres, who’s again at second base, with DJ LeMahieu set to bounce across the infield this season. Torres and his spouse additionally welcomed their first baby this week and he’s making scouts imagine the 25-year-old goes to have the ability to transfer previous the frustration of the previous two seasons. 

“He was all over offensively final 12 months,” one AL scout stated. “It began in ’20 with all of the COVID stuff after which he received off his recreation. After which they moved him to [shortstop] and he was much more misplaced. It’s early, however he appears to be like good now.” 

Lawson was assured once they started working that the readjustment wouldn’t be troublesome for Torres. 

“It’s about the best way he masses his decrease physique,’’ Lawson stated. “He’s at all times been aggressive and lots of people can’t do it the best way he does it. However he can and he’s embracing that. He’s not working away from what makes him good.” 

That motion usually messed with Torres’ timing final season, resulting in weak floor balls and pop ups. 

This spring, he has been extra on time. 

“The best way he masses his decrease half, it’s an even bigger transfer than most different guys, however it works for him,” Lawson stated. “It permits him to remain on balls to the alternative area and keep behind it. And when he must drop the pinnacle to the pull facet, he can get it within the air.” 

If all goes properly, Torres will resemble the hitter he was when he first got here up. 

“One of the best half about it’s he doesn’t should recreate something or be somebody he’s by no means been earlier than,” Lawson stated. “He’s completed it for a very long time and for almost all profession. It’s simply getting again to that.”