As Detroit and New York media circled round him within the customer’s dugout at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, Gleyber Torres debuted a brand new search for his return to the Bronx.
The previous Yankee and present Tiger grew a beard shortly after signing a one-year, $15 million contract with Detroit over the offseason — not that that may have been a problem for the 2025 pinstripers — however he added cornrows to his aesthetic on Monday. With the Tigers off, Torres visited his favourite New York Metropolis-based barbershop, Jordan MVP Barbershop, earlier than the beginning of an enormous three-game sequence.
“We tried something new,” Torres mentioned with a smile.
It has been a yr of serious change for the second baseman, as he spent the primary seven years of his massive league profession with the Yankees, who acquired him from the Cubs when he was simply 19. Torres has additionally taken on a management function for the first-place Tigers, who boast quite a lot of gamers who’re youthful than the 28-year-old.
On high of that, Torres is placing collectively one other stable season on the plate. Whereas in a second half stoop, he entered Tuesday’s matchup with a .259/.362/.396 slash line, 15 residence runs, 66 RBI and a 115 wRC+ over 128 video games.
“He’s a staple in their lineup, and he’s a really good player,” mentioned Torres’ former supervisor, Aaron Boone. “We noticed that right here, particularly the form of end he had final yr the ultimate two months of the season, after which all by way of October. He’s form of carried it over there and been actually constant for them. He’s such an excellent hitter. He is aware of the strike zone so properly. Final yr, you began to see the maturity. He was all the time an excellent hitter, however you actually began to see that veteran, mature hitter who actually controls the strike zone. He can impression the ball a little bit bit too. He’s powerful in opposition to good pitching.
“He’s been a key part of their season and why they’re in first place over there.”
Nonetheless, Torres has remained a poor defender and baserunner in Detroit, which is partly why the Yankees didn’t prolong a proposal to the three-time All-Star over the offseason regardless of needing infield assist. Torres was additionally benched twice final season as a consequence of poor efficiency and hustle, and he resisted a transition to 3rd base after the Yankees acquired Jazz Chisholm Jr. from the Marlins mid-season.
Torres acknowledged that he “didn’t do his best” with a “couple things” as a Yankee. He added, “No, not really” when requested if he was disenchanted the crew didn’t attempt to retain him.
“I know it’s a business,” Torres mentioned earlier than noting that groups are all the time trying to enhance. “I don’t have any unhealthy emotions with the group. I’m all the time gonna be pleased about the chance.
“To wear the pinstripes was an honor for me.”
Today, Torres is grateful for his alternative in The Motor Metropolis.
He mentioned he’s loved “everything” about Detroit, and he appeared open to signing a long-term deal there with free company on the horizon as soon as once more.
“Yeah, why not?” he mentioned. “I haven’t had any conversation with the team yet. I think, like normal, they’re gonna wait for after the season. But yeah, let’s see.”
For now, Torres is glad to be again within the Bronx for just a few days.
He was on the injured checklist when the Yankees visited the Tigers in April, so his return to Yankee Stadium additionally marks his first video games in opposition to his ex-employer.
“This was my house for my first seven years,” mentioned Torres, who caught up with former teammates earlier than Tuesday’s sport. “I’m really happy to be here.”
Torres additionally mentioned he’s hoping for a constructive response from followers, as his highs outnumbered his lows in a Yankee uniform. Boone mentioned he expects an ovation, and that Torres “deserves” one.
“I really liked the fans and everything when I was playing here,” Torres mentioned. “Unfortunately, whatever happened last year, is in the past. I always tried to do the best for the team, and for sure, for the fans. I tried to bring the energy every night when I got an opportunity to play.”
