Ronald Torreyes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ronald Torreyes |
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Torreyes with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2020
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| Infielder | |||
| Born: September 2, 1992 Barinas, Barinas, Venezuela |
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| debut | |||
| September 13, 2015, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 3, 2021, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .265 | ||
| Home runs | 11 | ||
| Runs batted in | 98 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Ronald Alcides Torreyes (born September 2, 1992) is a former professional baseball player from Venezuela. He played as an infielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was part of teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, and Philadelphia Phillies.
Ronald started playing baseball very young in Barinas, Venezuela. He learned by watching his dad play. Many MLB teams didn't pick him because he was small. But in 2010, he signed with the Cincinnati Reds.
Before playing in the MLB, Ronald played for several minor league teams. These included teams linked to the Reds, Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, and Toronto Blue Jays. In 2015, he joined the Dodgers. He made his first MLB appearance that September.
Later, Ronald joined the Yankees in 2016 as a backup infielder. In 2017, he played a lot more when another player, Didi Gregorius, got hurt. Ronald helped the team by playing shortstop for the first month. After 2018, he moved to other teams. He played for the Twins and then the Phillies. The COVID-19 pandemic affected his seasons in 2020 and 2021. He even got the virus himself. But he became a useful utility player for the Phillies. In 2022, he left the team.
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Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Ronald Torreyes was born on September 2, 1992, in Barinas, Barinas, Venezuela. His father, Alcides, was a construction worker who also played baseball. Ronald watched his dad play third base and center field for a local team. This is how he learned the game.
He started playing baseball at age four in a league called Compoticas or Semellitas, which means "Little Seeds." By age seven, he was playing for the Venezuela national baseball team in international games. Ronald played for the national team for seven years. As a teenager, he really wanted to become a professional baseball player. To get ready, he trained with his father. He also watched videos of Omar Vizquel, a famous Venezuelan shortstop.
Ronald's Baseball Journey
Starting in the Minor Leagues (2010–2015)
Playing for the Cincinnati Reds (2010–2013)
Many Major League Baseball (MLB) teams didn't want Ronald because he was small. But in February 2010, the Cincinnati Reds signed him as an international free agent. This means he was a player not yet signed to any team.
He started playing for the Reds' team in the Venezuelan Summer League (VSL). There, he was amazing! He won the league's batting title with a .390 batting average. This means he got a hit almost 4 out of every 10 times he tried. Ronald also led the VSL in many other ways. He had the best slugging percentage (.606), 34 extra-base hits, and 56 runs scored. He also had 10 triples, 94 hits, and 146 total bases.
After the VSL season, he moved up to the Arizona League Reds. He hit .349 there. In 2010, Ronald also played for the Class A Dayton Dragons. He continued with them in 2011. He was the team's starting second baseman and usually batted second. He batted right after Billy Hamilton. Both Ronald and Billy were known for being very fast. They helped the Dragons start strong in 2011. In 67 games that year, Ronald batted .356. He also had 41 runs batted in (RBIs) and 12 stolen bases.
On December 23, 2011, the Reds traded Ronald to the Chicago Cubs. He spent the 2012 season with the Daytona Cubs. He batted .264 in 115 games. He hit six home runs and had 47 RBIs. The next year, he moved up to the Double-A Tennessee Smokies. On April 25, 2013, Ronald almost hit for the cycle. This means getting a single, double, triple, and home run in one game. He got a single, double, and triple in a 2–1 win. He also walked and scored a run. He batted .260 for the Smokies.
Playing for the Houston Astros (2013–2014)
On July 3, 2013, the Cubs traded Ronald to the Houston Astros. He finished that season with the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks. He batted .278 in 28 games.
Ronald moved up to the Triple-A Oklahoma City RedHawks for the 2014 season. He became a strong hitter for the team. By August 2014, Ronald had one of the lowest strikeout rates in the minor leagues. He struck out only once every 20.9 times he batted. At one point, he went 90 times without striking out! He also had 34 games where he got more than one hit. Ronald batted .298 for the year. He hit two home runs and had 46 RBIs in 126 games.
Playing for the Toronto Blue Jays (2015)
Ronald started the 2015 season with the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies. He had five RBIs and seven runs in 19 games. On May 15, 2015, the Astros traded Ronald to the Toronto Blue Jays. The Blue Jays sent him to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats. He batted .140 in 16 games there.
Playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers (2015)
On June 12, 2015, the Blue Jays traded Ronald to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was then sent to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers. Ronald quickly made a big impact as the third baseman for Tulsa. He batted .298 with four home runs and 17 RBIs in 52 games. On August 11, he moved up to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers.
Ronald made his MLB debut on September 13, 2015. He played for an injured Jose Peraza in a 4–3 win. He played only a few games for the Dodgers that season. He appeared in eight games and got two hits. On January 12, 2016, the Dodgers removed him from their main roster.
Playing for the New York Yankees (2016–2018)
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Between April 2015 and March 2016, Ronald was traded or moved between teams 15 times! On January 12, 2016, the New York Yankees got Ronald. A few days later, the Yankees moved him off their main roster. Then, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim claimed him. But they also moved him off their roster two days later. On February 1, the Yankees claimed him back!
On March 30, 2016, the Yankees announced that Ronald would be their backup infielder. He would play at second base, shortstop, and third base. Ronald was only 23 years old, making him one of the youngest players on the team. He quickly showed he was a reliable hitter. While other backup players struggled, Ronald started the season batting .667. He had a double, a triple, and two RBIs.
He didn't play much for most of the summer. But by mid-August, he got more chances to start. At one point, he got 14 hits in 26 tries over two weeks. Ronald hit his first major league home run on August 19. It was a solo home run in a 7–0 win. In 2016, he played in 72 games for the Yankees. He batted .258 with 12 RBIs.
In 2017, the Yankees' main shortstop, Didi Gregorius, was hurt. So, Ronald became the starting shortstop for the beginning of the season. On April 4, he hit the team's first home run of the year. When Gregorius came back, Ronald continued to play at other positions. He played third base and filled in for Starlin Castro when he was injured. Ronald played the most in 2017. He batted .292 with three home runs and 36 RBIs in 108 games.
Ronald's good play as a utility player in 2017 impressed manager Aaron Boone. But on May 26, 2018, first baseman Greg Bird returned from an injury. To make space for him, Ronald was sent to the Triple-A team. Ronald stayed positive about going to the minor leagues. He spent most of the season there. But he still played in 41 games for the Yankees. He batted .280 with seven RBIs.
On November 26, 2018, the Yankees removed Ronald from their main roster again. Two days later, the Yankees traded him to the Chicago Cubs. But the Cubs didn't offer him a new contract, so he became a free agent.
Playing for the Minnesota Twins (2019)
On December 6, 2018, the Minnesota Twins signed Ronald. He was expected to be a backup infielder. But he started the 2019 season with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. He was one of several experienced players meant to help the team. Ronald spent most of 2019 with Rochester. He batted .256 with 11 home runs and 42 RBIs in 79 games. He also played a short time with the Class A team.
On September 10, he was called up to the Twins' main roster. On September 17, Ronald helped the Twins win a game in extra innings. He was hit by pitch with the bases loaded, which meant a run scored and the Twins won 9–8. After playing in seven games for the Twins, Ronald was removed from the main roster on October 28. This allowed the Twins to protect younger players.
Playing for the Philadelphia Phillies (2020–2022)
The Philadelphia Phillies signed Ronald to a minor-league contract on January 7, 2020. He was invited to spring training to try and make the team. The 2020 Minor League Baseball season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. So, Ronald spent the season at a special training site. On September 11, 2020, Ronald was called up to the Phillies' main team. The manager, Joe Girardi, said Ronald offered "more defensive flexibility." Ronald had more experience at shortstop and center field, where the Phillies needed help. But he played only a few games and was sent back down on September 15.
On December 4, 2020, Ronald signed another minor-league deal with the Phillies. On March 29, he officially made the Phillies' opening day roster for 2021. After playing in five games, Ronald spent almost a month on the COVID-19 injured list. He tested positive for the virus but didn't have symptoms. When he returned on May 18, he got his first RBI hit since 2018. On June 1, 2021, he hit his first home run in four years.
Ronald continued to play well for the Phillies. He filled in for Didi Gregorius and Alec Bohm when they were injured or sick. He started in 31 out of 46 games after returning from the COVID-19 list. In that time, he batted .270 with three home runs and 18 RBIs. He finished the season batting .242 in 111 games. He had seven home runs and 41 RBIs. Ronald played many different positions. He played 50 games at third base, 44 at shortstop, and 11 at second base. He even pitched in two games! On November 5, Ronald chose to become a free agent instead of going back to the minor leagues.
The Phillies signed Ronald to another minor league contract on March 20, 2022. He was expected to compete for a spot on the main team. But he didn't make the team. He had less playing time with the minor league team. When another player, Bryson Stott, was sent to the minor leagues, Ronald's playing time became even less. So, Ronald asked to be released from the team on April 27, and his request was granted.
Personal Life
Ronald Torreyes married Anarelys Melo Delgado on November 4, 2010. They have two sons. Their first son, Moises David, was born in 2013. Their second son, David Moises, was born in 2019.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
