Scouting the Yankees in the Arizona Fall League

Gleyber Torres

In his first week as the AFL’s youngest player, Torres has gone 3-for-12 with three runs scored. He’s had two of the Scottsdale Scorpions biggest hits to date, the first an opposite field homer in the team’s first game of the season Tuesday, and the second a walk-off RBI single in Friday’s 8-7 nail-biter victory over the Glendale Desert Dogs.

Scottsdale manager Tom Goodwin praised his 19-year-old shortstop’s maturity and makeup following the win:

"Big spots don’t faze him. He seems to be that type of player. He doesn’t tense him up or anything. He just kind of stays within himself and does his thing."

Goodwin compared Torres to another Yankee legend, former second baseman Robinson Cano, calling him “a natural.” He also noted that, “the ball sticks in the glove and it comes out quick. That’s two pretty good attributes for a shortstop and a second baseman.

One new development for Torres is he is seeing some time at the keystone for the first time as a professional. He recently told reporters, “I’m excited to play some second. I feel really comfortable.” With so many shortstops in the Yankees system, it’s important that the team begin to increase their flexibility.