“He Did the Right Thing”: Gleyber Torres Reacts To Being Benched By Aaron Boone After Baserunning Mistake

The resurgent Yankees that looked good after the Phillies series win were kept at bay against the Jays. The Yankees are fighting for a playoff spot and are currently in the second position of the AL East. Though tying at an exact record of 65-46 with the Orioles, a win against the Jays could have got them the #1 spot. It all came down to Friday’s match at the Yankees stadium when Gleyber Torres’s mistake against the Toronto Blue Jays cost them the game. 

Indeed, after a slight downfall in the last few years, Torres looked good against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday. He clutched two crucial runs and took the Bronx Bombers to an 11-8 victory. Still, it seems the short stint of Torres didn’t come in handy against the Toronto Blue Jays. He made a blunder in the second innings, thinking he belted a home run. Eventually, the Jays won 8-5 against the New York Yankees, extending their winning streak. Perhaps, feeling for his mistake, Gleyber Torres garnered his raw thoughts after the game. 

Gleyber Torres’s sorry moments on a blunder against the Toronto Blue Jays

In the top of the fourth inning on Friday, Torres left the game against the Jays. Most importantly, the decision was taken by the Yankees manager Aaron Boone after he discussed it with Torres. From Gleyber’s end, reflecting on the incident, he said, “I think he did the right thing, especially in that moment. I feel really sorry for what I did tonight especially for the fans and also my teammates. I’m a human being, and I made an error. From what I did tonight, I’m gonna learn a lot.” In the second inning, the Yankees were down 3-2 against the Jays. However, Torres laced a ball toward the left field that should have been a double if he busted out of the box. However, Torres remained in his position, thinking he had smashed a home run.

The ball traveled 363 feet off the bat of Torres at a speed of 111 mph. Perhaps it didn’t land in the stands and stayed at the ballpark. Eventually, the 2B Torres stayed at the first base, scoring just a single run. This caused Torres to be thrown out at home plate for the final innings of the match. However, after the last out, Gleyber didn’t make his way to the dugout as he was reluctant at his second base position. Additionally, with Torres’s mistake that cost the Yankees an extra run, Boone immediately acted on the matter.

After having a conversation with Torres, he switched him with Oswaldo Cabrera, who had a recent score of 1-for-1, playing in the seventh spot for the Pinstripes. Overall, in the 2024 season, Torres’s form has been an inconsistent one. Since his 105 games in the 2024 MLB season, he is slashing at .236/.311/.363 with 10 home runs, 18 doubles, and a mere 42 RBI. Perhaps, after benching Torres, Aaron Boone shared his thoughts on the 27-year-old 2B player in the post-match presentation. 

Aaron Boone portrayed the other side of the story for Torres’s mistake

If Torres would have run for the double despite looking for a homer, the victory scenario against the Jays might have been different. Explaining his view on Torres’s on-field blunder, Boone said, “I just felt like I needed to (bench Torres) in that spot. We got to move on. He and I have spoken. Hopefully, this is a great learning moment for all of us.” However, Gleyber Torres is not the only Yankees player not to hustle being in the batter’s box. But he becomes the first player to be benched twice for not running hard in the 2024 season.

Previously, Gleyber was benched in June when he struggled on a weak hit ground ball against the Mets. At that time, Aaron Boone named Torres’s benching a “reset” because he struggled in his offensive play. However, comparing June and August’s play of Torres, Aaron Boone was firm on his lack of hustle temperament. Still, in June, the second baseman was one of the best team hitters, having a WRC+ of 120. Comparing that to the Friday’s game, he failed to reflect his stats against the Blue Jays. 

Eventually, after the 2024 season, he will hit free agency, and with Chisholm Jr’s blockbuster arrival, the Yankees might have the second base backup already available. Perhaps, despite Aaron Boone allowing Torres to stick to his 2B position, the All-Star seems to fail in proving his worth. Ultimately, with a few months away from being a free agent, Gleyber will have to show his ‘A’ game if he wants to stand any chance for a contract extension by the Yankees.