Gleyber Torres facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gleyber Torres |
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Torres with the New York Yankees in 2018
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| Detroit Tigers – No. 25 | |||
| Second baseman | |||
| Born: December 13, 1996 Caracas, Venezuela |
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| debut | |||
| April 22, 2018, for the New York Yankees | |||
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) |
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| Batting average | .265 | ||
| Home runs | 138 | ||
| Runs batted in | 441 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Gleyber David Torres Castro (born December 13, 1996) is a professional baseball player from Venezuela. He plays as a second baseman for the Detroit Tigers in Major League Baseball (MLB). Before joining the Tigers, he played for the New York Yankees. Gleyber made his MLB debut in 2018 and was chosen as an All-Star in both 2018 and 2019.
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Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Gleyber Torres was born and grew up in Caracas, Venezuela. His parents are Eusebio Torres and Ibelise Castro. His father liked the unique name "Gleyber," so he chose it for his son. Gleyber's family lived in a middle-class home. However, Venezuela was going through some difficult times, with people facing challenges like food shortages and safety concerns.
Gleyber started playing baseball when he was just four years old. He tried different positions like center fielder, catcher, and pitcher, before becoming a shortstop. He loved watching baseball games on TV and looked up to his favorite player, Omar Vizquel. Gleyber also played basketball for a short time in high school, but his father told him to focus only on baseball.
As Gleyber grew older, baseball academies noticed his amazing talent. They wanted to help him become a professional player. When he was 14, Gleyber moved to Maracay to join an academy that worked with MLB scouts.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting with the Chicago Cubs (2014–2016)
Gleyber Torres began his professional journey in 2013 when he signed with the Chicago Cubs. He was an international free agent, meaning he wasn't drafted but could sign with any team. He received a $1.7 million signing bonus. In 2014, he played his first professional games with the Arizona League Cubs. Later that year, he moved up to the Boise Hawks. In 50 games, he hit for a .297 batting average with two home runs.
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In 2015, Gleyber started with the South Bend Cubs and was later promoted to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. In 126 games that year, he hit .287 with three home runs and 64 runs batted in (RBIs). He continued playing for Myrtle Beach in 2016.
Joining the New York Yankees (2018–2024)
On July 25, 2016, the Cubs traded Gleyber Torres to the New York Yankees. He was part of a trade that sent pitcher Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs. Gleyber started his Yankees career with the Tampa Yankees. For the 2016 season, he hit .270 with 11 home runs and 66 RBIs across both teams.
After the season, the Yankees sent Gleyber to the Arizona Fall League (AFL). He played incredibly well, hitting .403. He was named the AFL Most Valuable Player. At 19, Gleyber was the youngest player in the AFL and the youngest ever to win the MVP award. After 2016, Baseball America ranked him as the Yankees' best young player, or "prospect."
In 2017, Gleyber was ranked as the fifth-best prospect in all of baseball. He had a great spring training with the Yankees. He started the 2017 season with the Trenton Thunder. In April, he had to take a break due to a shoulder injury. The Yankees then promoted him to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in May. In June, Gleyber injured his non-throwing left elbow while sliding headfirst into home plate. He needed Tommy John surgery and missed the rest of the 2017 season. He finished the year hitting .287 with seven home runs and 34 RBIs. After the season, the Yankees added him to their main roster.
Before the 2018 season, Gleyber was still considered one of the top prospects in baseball. He competed for a spot on the Yankees' opening day roster. On March 13, 2018, he was sent back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. However, on April 22, he was called into his manager's office and told he was being promoted to the Major Leagues!
2018: An All-Star Debut
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Gleyber made his MLB debut on April 22, 2018, playing second base against the Toronto Blue Jays. He got his first MLB hit the next day. On May 4, Gleyber hit his first career home run. At 21 years old, he was the youngest Yankee to hit a home run since 1969. Two days later, he hit his first "walk-off" home run, which means it was a home run that ended the game and won it for his team. This made him the youngest Yankee ever to hit a walk-off homer.
On May 21, Gleyber hit two home runs in one game for the first time. On May 25, he hit a home run in his fourth straight game, becoming the youngest player in American League history to do so. He was named the AL Player of the Week for his amazing performance. On May 29, he hit another walk-off hit to win a game in extra innings. Gleyber was also named American League Rookie of the Month for May. He hit .317 with nine home runs and 24 RBIs that month.
On July 4, Gleyber went on the 10-day disabled list because of a hip injury. Even with the injury, he was chosen for the 2018 All-Star Game, his first time being selected! He didn't play in the game, but it was a big honor.
Gleyber was again named AL Player of the Week for the week ending September 2. On September 29, he hit the Yankees' 265th home run of 2018, setting a new team record for most home runs in a single season. Gleyber finished third in the voting for the American League Rookie of the Year Award.
2019: Another All-Star Season
After the 2018 season, Gleyber signed a one-year contract with the Yankees. On April 4, 2019, he had a fantastic game against the Baltimore Orioles, getting four hits, including two home runs and a double. On June 19, 2019, Gleyber hit his first career grand slam, which is a home run with the bases loaded, scoring four runs. He hit his second grand slam on August 2.
On August 12, Gleyber hit his 13th home run against the Orioles, setting a record for home runs against one team in a season. On August 22, he hit his 30th home run of the season. This made him only the second Yankee player aged 22 or younger to hit 30 or more home runs in a single season, joining baseball legend Joe DiMaggio.
On July 9, Gleyber was announced as an American League All-Star for the second time. He had one hit in the All-Star game. He finished the 2019 regular season hitting .278 with 38 home runs. His 38 home runs made him one of the youngest middle infielders ever to hit so many. He also played very well in the 2019 American League Division Series, hitting .417.
On October 13, 2019, Gleyber became the youngest second baseman in MLB history to get at least four RBIs in a playoff game. He ended the 2019 season with 38 home runs and a .535 slugging percentage, which shows how powerful his hitting was.
2020–2022: Changes and Consistency
The 2020 season was shorter due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gleyber played in 42 games, hitting .243 with three home runs and 16 RBIs. He played shortstop that year, but had nine errors.
In 2021, Gleyber hit .259 with nine home runs and 51 RBIs. After struggling a bit at shortstop, the Yankees moved him back to second base in September. Before the 2022 season, the Yankees brought in another player to play shortstop, so Gleyber stayed at second base. In 2022, he hit .257 with 24 home runs and 76 RBIs.
2023: A Milestone Year
The year 2023 started with some talk about Gleyber's contract. He and the Yankees agreed on a one-year contract for $9.95 million. On April 3, during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Gleyber hit his 100th career home run! He became the seventh youngest Yankee player to reach this milestone. For the 2023 season, Gleyber had a .273 batting average, 25 home runs, 68 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases. He was also named a finalist for the Silver Slugger Award, which recognizes the best offensive players at each position.
2024: World Series Appearance
In 2024, Gleyber was a key player for the Yankees as they reached the World Series for the first time since 2009. After the Yankees lost the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Gleyber became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team.
Joining the Detroit Tigers
On December 27, 2024, Gleyber Torres signed a one-year contract worth $15 million with the Detroit Tigers.
Personal Life
Gleyber Torres met his wife, Elizabeth, in his hometown of Caracas in 2014. They got married in April 2017. Their first child, a son, was born on March 20, 2022.
Images for kids
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Torres with the Yankees in 2018 (also in infobox)
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Torres with the Cubs during spring training in 2015
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Torres during Players Weekend in 2018
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Torres in 2019
See also
In Spanish: Gleyber Torres para niños
