During the New York Yankees 6-5 win over the Blue Jays on Saturday, general manager Biran Cashman revealed the favorite contestant to fill the shortstop vacancy.
As the spring training contest between the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays reached the third inning, general manager Brian Cashman revealed who his coaching staff wanted to be the Opening Day shortstop in the wake of Didi Gregorius‘ injury.“Everybody voted for Gleyber Torres from the coaching staff probably,” Cashman said on the YES Network’s broadcast. “It’s going to come from [Tyler] Wade, Ronald Torreyes maybe [Starlin] Castro. We’re going to see how it all shakes out.”
Gregorius, who hit 20 home runs last season for New York, will be out until mid-may after suffering a shoulder strain in the World Baseball Classic. Despite pressure from his staff to start Gleyber the wonder kid, the Yankees’ GM stood his ground.
“You got to keep perspective,” Cashman added. “He’s 20-years old coming out of A-ball, never played in cold weather so we’re excited about what he is and what he’s going to be and his time is coming.”
Rightfully so, that time is not now.
Torres has to take a pitch in Double-A Trenton. He did become the youngest MVP in the history of the Arizona Fall League, but having a kid who you’re so high on jump over Double-A and Triple-A will do nothing but damage the prospect’s development as a ballplayer — despite how hot his play was through 29 Grapefruit League at-bats.
In those 29 at-bats, the shortstop acquired in the trade that sent Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs slashed .488/.469/.931 with two home runs and 27 total bases in 19 games.
Despite the popular vote among the staff, though, the kid will head to Trenton in hopes to recommence his rise to stardom.