Yankees All-Star Shortstop Gleyber Torres Returns to Action

New York Yankees shortstop Gleyber Torres
New York Yankees shortstop Gleyber Torres in May 2019. Photo by Richard Ulreich/CSM/Shutterstock (10248351t)

The New York Yankees had several reasons to celebrate after Friday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles. The Yanks not only claimed a win, but they also saw their All-Star shortstop Gleyber Torres making a return after almost a month on the sidelines.

Torres has been enjoying a productive 2021 season, batting .253 with six home runs and 42 RBIs, before going down with a thumb injury in early August. He missed a total of 22 games before re-joining the team’s lineup.

“I know he’s real eager to get back and contribute,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters when asked about Torres’ return. “I felt he was playing some of his best baseball in those couple weeks before going to the IL.”

Still, Boone will be careful with Torres and will sit him out in the second game of the series against the Orioles on Saturday. The 24-year-old star is expected to return for the series finale on Sunday.

Torres will certainly provide a big boost for the Yankees as the team is getting ready to make a final push for the top of AL East. They are currently second in the division, trailing 6.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays. The Yanks also need to be aware of the Boston Red Sox, who are only 1.5 games behind them.

Since making his MLB debut in 2018, Gleyber Torres emerged as one of the Yankees’ most valuable players. He has two All-Star appearances and 71 homers to his name so far in his pro career.