The New York Yankees' second baseman, Gleyber Torres, found himself watching from the dugout on Wednesday as manager Aaron Boone decided to bench him following a disappointing performance during a critical moment in their previous game. Torres' absence from the starting lineup was a strategic move from Boone, who aimed to jolt the struggling player back into form by giving him a mental and physical break.
Boone Turns to Cabrera
In Torres' stead, Boone relied on Oswaldo Cabrera to take over duties at second base as the Yankees concluded their two-game series against their cross-town rivals, the New York Mets. Cabrera’s assignment underscores Boone’s attempts to shake things up within the lineup and find a winning formula amid the Yankees’ recent struggles.
“He might get a couple days to reset... mentally, physically,” Boone explained. “We need him to go. We need him to get going, especially through this stretch. ... We need him to be a presence in the middle of our lineup. We've got to get that out of him.”
Statistical Decline
Gleyber Torres has had a rough season thus far, batting a meager .215/.294/.333 with only seven home runs across 80 games. This performance equates to an OPS+ of 78, a stark decline from his career OPS+ of 114 prior to 2024. Torres' troubling performance hasn't gone unnoticed, especially over the past two weeks where his slash line plummeted to .108/.222/.324, a period during which his lack of hustle was attributed to groin discomfort.
Team Struggles
The Yankees are currently at 52-29, maintaining a slim two-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East. Despite the favorable standings, the team's form has been inconsistent, having lost five of their last six and seven of their last nine games. This recent dip can be partly attributed to injuries to key players like Anthony Rizzo and Giancarlo Stanton, hampering the Yankees' overall performance.
Discussing Torres' benching, Boone mentioned, “Nothing that's too significant... I just feel like he needs it.” It's clear Boone believes a brief respite might be precisely what Torres needs to regain his form and once again become the offensive force the Yankees have relied on in past seasons.
Mets on the Rise
Opposing the Yankees, the New York Mets have been in formidable form, boasting Major League Baseball's best record in June with a 14-6 run. The Mets' surge adds to the pressure on the Yankees as they navigate through a challenging period fraught with internal struggles and external competition.
The hope within the Yankees' camp is that the benching of Torres will serve as a wake-up call, allowing the second baseman to reset and refocus, especially as the team gears up for what promises to be a crucial stretch of the season. Boone's decision to give Torres a break is a calculated move, intended to rejuvenate a player who has, in the past, proven to be a pivotal component of the Yankees' lineup.
The baseball community will closely follow how this strategic move impacts both Torres' performance and the Yankees' standings in the fiercely competitive American League East. As the season progresses, Torres’ ability to reclaim his form could be instrumental in determining whether the Yankees can sustain their lead and push deep into the postseason.