Yankees: 4 Worst-Case Scenarios for the 2020 Season

3. A step back for Gleyber Torres

Could the next Yankees star take a step back?

Heading into the 2020 season, Gleyber Torres looks poised to become the next great Yankee. The then-22-year-old mashed 38 home runs and was a menace in the playoffs, posting a .324/.375/.703 line when the lights were shining brightest.

Despite paving his way toward superstardom, there’s concern about his fielding ability at shortstop. On the surface, Torres looks like a long-term fit at the position with solid range and a strong arm. However, he made a number of mental errors and mistakes, combining for 20 total errors last season while splitting time at short and second base.

At the plate, Torres seems to have it figured out. He improved his approach and cut down on his strikeout rate in 2019. While a small step back offensively wouldn’t be the end of the world, combining that with issues in the field could have the front office beginning to plan for him to be the answer at second rather than shortstop.

Torres is one of the most critical pieces of the Yankees’ future. Frankly, it’s almost painful to imagine Torres struggling this season. However, we are talking about worst-case scenarios, and there’s only one other player whose struggles may be more devastating for the Yankees.