Gonzalo Urgelles R. | [email protected]
Sometimes what we want is not what we really need, or what is best for us. Starting from this point, we can analyze the decision of Aaron Boone – who also had a hard time twisting his arm – to move Gleyber Torres from shortstop to second base.
Since this happened, the Venezuelan has stated that he is comfortable with this measure and that what matters most to him is being in the lineup and helping the team. This may be true, however the infielder did not sit well with the change, at least at first, even though he acknowledged that his work in the short stops had not been up to the task.
The truth is that Boone affirmed that in view of what was at stake for the Yankees during the last weeks, risking the possibility of being in the Playoffs or not, and to reduce pressure on Caracas, he chose to carry out this multiple castling in his infield. Since then, Gleyber David has looked increasingly confident and confident on defense, which in turn has been reflected in his performance at the crossbar.
Prior to his arrival in the ‘Big Top’, Torres had only played 16 middle school games in his Minor League career. However, in 2018 in the absence of a regular first baseman in the Bronx, Neil Walker had to take on that role, and Brandon Drury’s injury prompted the sought-after prospect to call him to play on the second cushion.
The Creole had a successful performance in his debut year, which continued into 2019 when he shared his playing time between middle and shortstop. His problems in position six, despite being his natural position, began to be evident.
Between 2020 and 2021 Gleyber’s defensive crisis simply increased, with this his hitting began to be affected in a dramatic way.
Since the New York boss placed Torres as second baseman, ‘De Caracas’ has notably improved his offense, averaging approximately .298 in 47 at-bats. In addition, in that span, the infielder had a streak of ten consecutive games connecting at least one hit, also hitting a pair of doubles, a home run and dropping in four runs.
As a waiter, the 24-year-old has a mistake in 13 games played in 2021, for a fielding average of .980; the blunder was in the first defensive engagement at second base. For his part, as shortstop he had 18 sins in 108 appearances, to leave a .952 defensive percentage.
Since graduating from major league, Gleyber Torres has participated in 246 games in which he pitched as shortstop, with a .950 fielding percentage, the product of 43 errors committed; He has also defended middle in 187 games, committing 22 defensive misses, for a contrasting .970 average.
In short, the Yankees’ 25 is a much more solvent glove when he plays second base than when he has to defend Derek Jeter’s premises; And when he’s in second base, with less pressure, he becomes a more effective and dangerous hitter.
FIGURES
10 consecutive games with at least one hit, had Torres since he was moved
.970 is the fielding percentage of the Caracas player, in Las Mayores, as a second baseman
.298 It’s what Gleyber’s hitting since he’s been lining him up as a bartender
18 mistakes made by the Venezuelan in his 108 games of 2021 as a shortstop
DEFENSIVE CASTLING
With Gleyber Torres in middle, DJ LeMahieu has also notably defended the hot corner. This has motivated the Colombian Gio Urshela to have been placed at shortstop.
Despite Gio’s elegant glove, much better – in addition – in the anteroom than in any other position in the infield, he could be the most damaged by 2022.
Should the Yankees decide to keep Torres and LeMahieu castling, they could choose to look for a shortstop (Trevor Story) in free agency, which would leave Cartagena with no field space. The initial is well cared for with Luke Voit and the possibility of keeping Anthony Rizzo in the future.
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