From Yankees Castoff to Tigers All-Star?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated Jun 27, 2025 2:53 PM ET

Maybe the Yankees thought Gleyber Torres was finished. Turns out, he was just getting started somewhere else.

Now in Detroit, Torres is one of two finalists to start at second base for the American League in next month’s All-Star Game. He’s not just putting up numbers—he’s thriving, and doing it with the kind of consistency that eluded him during his final years in the Bronx.

Torres is hitting .280 with an .803 OPS through 73 games for the first-place Tigers. Both marks would be career highs since 2019—the last time he made the All-Star team. And the advanced metrics show it’s no fluke. According to MLB.com’s Brian Murphy, Torres owns a .520 expected slugging percentage this year, a massive jump from the .368 xSLG he posted during a frustrating 2024 with New York.

He’s also heating up at just the right time. Torres extended his hit streak to four games Thursday with a two-run homer in a win over the A’s, raising his season totals to eight home runs and 40 RBIs. He’s helped Detroit stake out an early lead in the AL standings—and he might just earn a fan-elected starting job at second base for his efforts.

He’s up against Orioles rookie Jackson Holliday, who has solid numbers but not the same impact. Holliday has nine home runs and a .721 OPS—good, but not Torres good.

Voting resumes Monday, June 30, and runs through noon ET on July 2. There’s still time for fans to make a statement.

The Yankees once built around Gleyber Torres. Then they let him walk. The Tigers gave him a second chance—and now, he might just be an All-Star again.

Want a headline package built around this one? We can lean into redemption, revenge, or “Yankees gave up too soon” energy.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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