Gleyber Torres' second-half comeback didn't stop even after the regular season ended.
The second baseman continued to shine at the top of the Yankees' lineup in Game 1 of the ALDS, reaching base three times and hitting a two-run homer to the short porch in Saturday's win over the Royals.
“It's been pretty special to see how he's turned his season around over the last few months,” utility man Oswaldo Cabrera said on the Sunday off before Game 2. “That's the Gleyber that we know. That's the Gleyber that we know, and every time he steps up to the plate, you know he's going to do something. The attitude he's shown in recent months. , he's not done, it's not all over yet. He shows every time and every at-bat that he can do something very special for the whole team.”
The pending free agent has played the last few months as if he wasn't even thinking about himself.
After recording a batting average of .215 and OPS of .628 in the first 80 games until June 25th, he finished the season with a batting average of .298 and OPS of .786 in the final 74 games, and was re-established as an important piece as the Yankees' leadoff batter. surfaced.
That continued on Saturday, when in addition to the home run, he drew two walks and threw a total of 29 pitches in four at-bats.
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“I feel comfortable,” Torres said. “I don't have to do too much right now because I know I have great players behind me. Just go to home plate and follow my plan. If you don't have anything to hit, walk. You can bring it out and pass the baton. [Juan] Soto and [Aaron] The judge and those people too. ”
Aaron Boone felt Torres' swing judgment continued to be sharp even when he didn't see results in the first half of the season.
But now that Torres is long past that failure, his manager believes it might be better for Torres.
“He's definitely been through a lot this year,” Boone said. “Obviously there were some difficulties in the first half of the season, but I always think it's worth going through them and gaining experience so that I can endure from there and do well. I hope that he will continue to push me to become a well-rounded player.” All I can say is he feels like he's in a really good headspace and obviously playing at a very high level for us.”
Before Game 1, Boone said the left field situation was in flux.
But on Sunday, he credited Alex Verdugo, not surprisingly, for making two key defensive plays, reaching base three times on Saturday, including the go-ahead single, and starting again on Monday. Ta.
Nestor Cortez (left elbow flexor strain) played catch Sunday for the first time since a 10-day hiatus late in the regular season.
It happened while Boone was talking to reporters, so he doesn't have an update on how it turned out yet, but Cortez is expected to be optioned out of the bullpen in late October due to reinforcements. I want it.
“He's not throwing to not be an option, so we'll see,” Boone said.
