New York Yankees Encouraged to Exercise Patience Amid Former All-Star’s Downturn…
It’s imperative that the New York Yankees allow their former All-Star some time to improve his at-bat strategy. With a record of 23-13, the New York Yankees are among the top teams in Major League Baseball. However, not every player on the squad is performing to the same degree. Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report identified a former All-Star in New York after scouring the league for each team’s most memorable slumps.For the Yankees, Gleyber Torres has been a reliable bat throughout the years, but in 2024, something doesn’t appear to be there. He is just slashing 222/.293/.274 so far. A few days ago, he hit his first home run. Torres may be experiencing a lull in the early going of the season, which would not be unusual. His slash line is a pitiful 247, 318, and 369, far lower than his career norms. However, compared to previous seasons, his results this year are significantly worse. The 27-year-old’s primary problem thus far has been that his contact quality is simply lacking. Although it may seem obvious, his at-bats do reflect those from the 2020 and 2021 seasons, when he was unable to provide much power at the plate. He has never had xBA (.210) or xWOBA (.272) as low as they are. This season, Statcast’s exit velocity is approximately 88, compared to the previous two years, when it was closer to 90. He’s on a four-game hitting streak, though, so things are looking up for him. His batting average is now higher than it was at the close of April. Given his past tendency to crank up the pace in May, it’s probably best to give him a little leeway before becoming alarmed. […]