Yankees Ronald Torreyes Looks Worth Keeping Around Long-Term

While he’s not a guy you build a team around, utility infielder Ronald Torreyes has emerged as a solid role player for the New York Yankees and should stick around for 2017.

When Ronald Torreyes surprisingly beat out Rob Refsnyder for the New York Yankees utility infielder job out of spring training, it seemed like a temporary measure while Ref got a little more seasoning at third base. Instead, Torreyes has managed to stick it out on the big league roster for the entire season.

Even Yankees manager Joe Girardi has admitted he didn’t think Torreyes would make it the whole year. For most of the season, his presence on the bench had less to do with his performance than the organization’s lack of a true backup shortstop for Didi Gregorius.

In the spring, the team had discussed using second baseman Starlin Castro to back up Didi and Chase Headley at third, which would have enabled them to carry Refsnyder regardless of his defensive shortcomings, but ultimately they decided Castro was best served learning his new position full-time.

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Torreyes had minimal impact during the first four months of the season, hitting .236/.295/.333 (68 wRC+) in just 78 PA. He played very little and didn’t really make the most of the few opportunities he did get.

That all changed in August when Torreyes finally got an extended look in the starting lineup filling in for an injured Headley. In a string of seven starts at third near the end of August, Torreyes went 14-for-28 (.500 BA!) with five doubles, six RBI, and his first career big league home run.

Headley controversially found himself stuck on the Yankees bench for a time even after returning to health, with Girardi saying he was playing the “hot hand.” While Torreyes has obviously cooled off since then, he’s been rock solid in the second half, putting up a .299/.338/.463 (114 wRC+) in 72 PA.

While he’s not without his flaws, there is a lot to like about Torreyes. He’s a solid defender at second, third, and shortstop. He makes a lot of contact, although he doesn’t walk a ton or offer much power potential because of his size (listed at 5’10 150 lbs, but come on…). At 24, he’s young enough that he could continue to develop.

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Even so, it wouldn’t be shocking if Torreyes fell victim to the Yankees 40 man roster crunch this winter. If they see Refsnyder or even International League All-Star Donovan Solano as being a more promising option, he could be deemed expendable. Sean Rodriguez and Steve Pearce are also enticing bench players who will be available via free agency.