As the season progresses, former All-Star Gleyber Torres finds his prospects for a long-term contract with the New York Yankees in jeopardy unless he can reverse his current performance trends in the second half of the year.
Torres’ Struggles at the Plate
Torres is experiencing the most challenging season of his career with the Yankees, with batting averages slumping to .218 and an on-base percentage of .296. His slugging percentage has also plummeted to .338 despite hitting 77 home runs and driving in 29 RBIs, resulting in an 85 wRC+. This mass regression not only affects his batting average and on-base percentage but also his slugging and confidence, which have dramatically decreased as well.
Although historically inconsistent, Torres has demonstrated the potential that could make him an All-Star annually. His erratic performance, however, has become a familiar issue for the Yankees since his debut in 2018.
In stark contrast, Torres had a strong 2023 season, batting .273 with a .347 OBP and smashing 25 homers. His strikeout rate was impressively the lowest of his career at 14.6%, but this season it has escalated from 9% to 23.6%. This spike in strikeouts is a significant concern as it represents a regression from his previous year’s performance.
