CINCINNATI
After years of contemplating retirement, Brian Torres, at 28, finally made it to Major League Baseball, hitting a home run in his debut for the St. Louis Cardinals.
“It took me 11 years to get here,” he shared, fighting back tears after contributing to the Cardinals’ 8-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the first game of a doubleheader. “I’m not really known for hitting home runs. This moment just… it felt surreal. Learning to manage pressure is hard. You know, when your heart races, you just need to calm down. I could really feel it today.”
Torres, who began his minor league career in 2015, played as a left fielder and was batting in the seventh spot.
With his distinct dyed blond hair, he worked a full-count walk from Chris Paddack in the second inning, hit a single in the fourth, grounded out in the sixth, had a flyout in the seventh, and then smashed a home run off Jose Franco’s fastball in the ninth, sending the ball into the first row of right-center seats.
“I can hardly find the words for this moment,” he said.
Many enthusiastic Cardinals fans in attendance began chanting his name and cheering, prompting a curtain call after his impressive home run.
“They really bring a lot of energy to us,” Torres noted.
With his performance, Torres became just the third Cardinals player since 1900 to achieve multiple hits, including a home run, in his debut, the first since Bobby Smith did it in 1957.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol commented, “It’s pretty neat. Moments like these are rare and worthwhile to enjoy. Even in his first at-bat, you could see his composure.”
Torres signed on with the Milwaukee minor league team in 2015, was picked up by San Francisco in December 2019, became a free agent after the 2021 season, and then played two years with the independent Milwaukee Milkmen.
“Honestly, there was a time when I thought about hanging up my cleats,” he admitted. “But then I realized I wanted to give it one more shot. If I got the chance, I was going to give it everything I had.”
In September 2023, he signed with the Cardinals and excelled in Double-A Springfield, hitting .331 with two home runs, 56 RBIs, and 33 stolen bases. He then moved up to Triple-A Memphis, where he maintained a .328 batting average with 16 doubles, nine home runs, and 51 RBIs in 2025.
Last November, he made it onto the 40-man roster and represented Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, where he hit 2-for-6 with a double, three walks, and three RBIs.
Marmol added, “I plan to utilize him as much as I can. He’s a left-handed hitter who knows how to work the strike zone. He’s a tough at-bat. I really like what he brings to the game.”
Called up from Triple-A Memphis, Torres had recently hit .336 with 10 doubles, two home runs, 16 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases in 36 games.
“I was in the clubhouse when manager Ben Johnson announced, ‘I’ve got good news: Brian Torres is going to The Show,'” he recalled. “Everyone went wild, some folks were crying along with me.”
His family was present at Great American Ball Park for the big moment, and his first call was to his mother, Lysette Crespo.
“She’s been taking me to games since I was four. Every weekend, she’d be there, and on weekdays, she’d take me to practice,” he reminisced.
His parents arrived from Puerto Rico, but sadly, that night’s game was rained out.
“It was really emotional. He was in tears, and when I got the news, I cried too,” his mother shared during the game broadcast. “That was just a really special moment.”
Torres took the spot of outfielder Nathan Church, who is on the 10-day injured list due to a shoulder issue. This made him the oldest position player to debut for the Cardinals since catcher Alberto Rosario, who was 29 back in 2016.
“It’s been a long and challenging journey—definitely not conventional,” Torres reflected. “I believe everything happens for a reason. My family couldn’t be happier. We’re truly living the dream.”
