NEW YORK — Top prospect and former Cubs farmhand Gleyber Torres is being called up to the New York Yankees, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.
The 21-year-old infielder will join the Yankees before Sunday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays, the person said Saturday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the decision had not been announced.
The Yankees acquired Torres from the Cubs as part of a package of players for closer Aroldis Chapman. The Yankees also received outfielder Rashad Crawford, outfielder Billy McKinney and pitcher Adam Warren.
Torres has hit .347 with three doubles, one triple, one home run and 11 RBIs for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre of the International League. He was removed from the RailRiders’ 6-5 loss to Toledo on Saturday after six innings.
Torres was at second base for the sixth time this season on Saturday — starting there for the second straight day— and also has played nine games at shortstop and nine games at third. His promotion was first reported by the Yankees’ YES Network.
The Times-Tribune in Scranton reported RailRiders manager Bobby Mitchell did not tell Torres why he was being removed from the game but that it was not for disciplinary reasons, then informed him of the promotion after the game while his teammates looked on.
Voted the top player in the 2016 Arizona Fall League, Torres had been at Triple-A for a month last year when he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his non-throwing left arm during a headfirst slide into home plate on June 17.
He joins an infield that already includes 23-year-old rookie third baseman Miguel Andujar, who has eight extra-base hits in his last five games
Yankees manager Aaron Boone did not think the looming arrival of Torres caused Andujar to play better. He had a three-run double off Marcus Stroman in Saturday’s 9-1 with over Toronto and four doubles over three games earlier in the homestand.
“He’s just gaining some traction and getting a little more comfortable,” Boone said. “Walking up to hit, he’s got a little bit of that swagger back, like he’s starting to feel confident and comfortable.”
