Gleyber Torres’ ‘heartbeat’ showed Yankees’ farm leader he was ready

Yankees director of player development Kevin Reese explains that Gleyber Torres, the hero in the 7-4 win over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday, May 6, 2018 (5/6/18), “plays with such a calmness” that he knew he was ready for his MLB shot.

Watch video

NEW YORK — Before Gleyber Torres could be the Yankees‘ hero Sunday, he needed to prove he no longer belonged in the minor leagues, said Kevin Reese, the team’s director of player development.

“With most players, there is a question of, ‘How will he handle New York? The spotlight? The pressure?’ Etc.,” Reese said in a text message Sunday night.

“With Gleyber, that was really never a question. He plays with such a calmness and low heartbeat that there wasn’t much doubt in that department. He was playing at a really high level at the end of 2016 in the fall league and in 2017 prior to the injury, so it was more of a question of him being 100 percent and returning to the level he was accustomed to playing at.

“Once he was there, I thought he was ready.”

How Torres is making history

The Yankees called up Torres, their 21-year-old top prospect, from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on April 21 to become their regular second baseman.

That promotion made it possible for Torres to rip a three-run home run in the ninth inning to give the Yankees a 7-4 walk-off win over the Indians on Sunday.

With Neil Walker on second base and one out, the Indians intentionally walked pinch hitter Giancarlo Stanton, the reigning National League MVP, to pitch to Torres, whom Baseball America ranked the game’s No. 6 overall prospect.

Torres fouled off strike one before watching three straight balls. After another foul ball to run the count full, Torres crushed Dan Otero’s 88-mph sinker over the center-field wall.

It ended the game and left Torres soaked in Gatorade.

The Yankees had hoped Torres might be ready sooner. The Venezuela native likely would have been called up in the second half last year if not for Tommy John surgery, which ended his season in July.

When spring training started, it was clear Torres — battling for the starting second base spot — was rusty. He hit just .219 with no homers and one RBI in 13 games.

But he shook it off quickly. At Triple-A, Torres hit .347 with a homer and 11 RBI in 14 games.

Since getting called up, Torres is hitting .327 with two homers and a .357 on-base percentage in 15 games and 52 at-bats — mostly from the No. 9 spot in the lineup. The Yankees are 14-1 in those games.

“It’s a special bat and he’s been an impact player for us,” manager Aaron Boone said. “What more can you say?”

Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.