Yankees’ Gleyber Torres would be ready to take over for Didi Gregorius, agent says

by Felix Pantaleón

Gleyber Torres’ agent says the young star would be ready to take over at shortstop for the injured Didi Gregorius if the Yankees need him.

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CARLSBAD, Calif. — Gleyber Torres would be ready to take over as the Yankees‘ full-time shortstop if necessary, his agent said.

“I think he would, wouldn’t you?” Octagon managing director Alan Nero said at the 2018 MLB GM Meetings at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa on Tuesday. “He just wants to play.”

Nero added that he believes Torres is already preparing for the possibility.

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The Yankees might be forced to shift Torres from second base to shortstop to fill the hole left by Didi Gregorius, who needed Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last month. The Yankees are hopeful Gregorius could return as early as June but it’s also possibly he’ll miss the entire season.

Torres, who turns 22 in December, turned in a superb debut in 2018, hitting .271 with 24 home runs, 77 RBI and a .820 OPS in 123 games en route to being named a finalist for the American League Rookie of the Year award.

He spent 109 games at second base and played 21 at shortstop. Torres, a Venezuela native, was a shortstop throughout the minor leagues until the Yankees started having him play second base at times after they acquired him from the Cubs in a deal that sent closer Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago.

Torres has said he feels comfortable playing shortstop. General manager Brian Cashman has said the Yankees will explore free agent and trade options to fill Gregorius’ spot but that Torres ranks as the team’s top internal option at shortstop, with prospect Tyler Wade and utility infielder Ronald Torreyes behind him.

Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.