At one point, it looked like the New York Yankees were ready to move on from Gleyber Torres. They got him from the Chicago Cubs in 2016 as a part of a trade and had big expectations. But while Torres’s career with the Pinstripes started on a high, things quickly took a bad turn. After two fantastic years, every season that followed was downhill, and the saga continued in 2024. In a crucial contract year, hoping to get a deal for 2025, he was struggling and hitting a .231/.307/.347 before the All-Star break.

Torres’s home run count was poor, and it wouldn’t be wrong to count this year as one of his worst seasons. The Yankees even got Jazz Chisolm as a replacement, but they couldn’t trade Torres. So, they tried something different—moving him to the leadoff spot. And this strategy has made all the difference. On Sunday, Torres played a huge role in helping the Yanks secure a win against the Oakland Athletics. Aaron Judge couldn’t help but appreciate Torres, noting what a turnaround it’s been for him!

Aaron Judge applauds Gleyber Torres’ for his upsurge

The leadoff spot has been a blessing in disguise for the 27-year-old; the shift in focus from trying to hit home runs to making solid contact has worked for him. Just look at what he did on Sunday – Torres went 2-for-5, including a sole home run which marked his fourth multi-hit in his last seven games. Now, he has 15 homers this season out of which three are in September itself—a sudden spurge if you ask. But the captain of the team isn’t complaining.

Torres is at a steady .254/.328/.374 slash line with 62 RBIs, 76 runs scored, 23 doubles, and four stolen bases. Aaron Judge, who hit his 55th homer against A’s, later talked about Gleyber Torres’ new role and resurgence. Judge emphasized, “He’s staying aggressive, aggressive in his zone, that’s the biggest thing. Sometimes we get a little passive at times if we’re not swinging wait we want to, but the second half he’s been going up there confident.” The 32-year-old captain also pointed out how the second half has been a game-changer for his teammate, which also helped the team.

Torres filled up the weak spot for the New York Yankees just when they needed it. There was a failed attempt at finding a good enough leadoff hitter before; the team tried Anthony Volpe, Alex Verdugo, and DJ LeMahieu, but things didn’t work out. They were experimenting—and Torres just hit bullseye’ on the role. With this, the new leadoff player solidified his stature on the team, but will it be enough to keep his seat for the next season?

Gleyber Torres hitting his stride, but what’s next?

Gleyber Torres was going to have a rough free agency — that’s what was most anticipated. But now, he has flipped the coin; looking at the way he has been performing in the new role, his value has increased. It makes one think if the Yanks will keep him in this role, considering how Torres’s bat has become essential for the team to succeed. But whether Torres will be retained is a big question mark: Two issues can pose major roadblocks.

Torre’s future is uncertain at the moment. Firstly, the Yankees are now geared up for a massive contract for Juan Soto, so, they might not have the budget to keep a veteran like Torres around. He earns around $14.2 million in arbitration, but with his form now, $15 million per season might be his ask. Thus, it’s a matter of whether the team can have the budget. Moreover, it’s been a rough season for him defensively and Torres closed in his career worst. His 18 errors and -12 Defensive Runs Saved are definite eyebrow-raisers, so, the Yanks might want to see if they can let this issue go or opt for someone who has more balance for the role.

Even though Gleyber Torres has been performing and also gaining the praise of his captain Aaron Judge, there is still a lack of balance. Now, we can only wait and watch if he will be wearing pinstripes the next year or not. What do you predict? Let us know in the comments.