Gleyber Torres Gets All-Star Spotlight as Yankees Manager Offers Belated Respect

Aaron Boone had kind words this week for Gleyber Torres. That’s more than he had when the infielder left Yankees’ unceremoniously as a free agent. 

“He’s had an outstanding year for what’s been the best record in the American League so far, the Detroit Tigers,” Boone said during All-Star media availability. “He’s been a tone-setter for them at the top, getting on base at an amazing clip.”

Torres, voted the American League’s starting second baseman, is having the best offensive season of his career. He’s reaching base at a .387 clip and helping lead a Tigers team that passed the Yankees in the standings weeks ago.

But Boone’s praise lands a little differently considering how Torres left.

It wasn’t exactly an amicable split. 

There were years of underperformance from Torres, comments from GM Brian Cashman about the one-time Yankees shortstop of the future letting himself get out of shape, causing injuries. Torres has been open about his frustration on social media and in interviews. He was annoyed when GM Brian Cashman brought up an anecdote about Torres refusing to move to third base when Jazz Chisholm Jr. was acquired at the deadline last year. Then, after the Yankees lost the World Series, he never heard a word from Boone or Cashman.

Torres has made it clear he has no issues with his former teammates, including Chisholm. As the current Yankees second baseman was doing a pre-Home Run Derby interview Monday night, Torres made a point to tease Chisholm in the background. They greeted each other warmly. He took pictures on the field with Yankees great CC Sabathia and Dellin Betances. He hung out with Aaron Judge. 

Now, here he is, playing for the best team in the American League. And here Boone is, talking him up in front of the baseball world 

Maybe that’s just how it works. Maybe Boone meant every word. But Torres hasn’t forgotten what wasn’t said, and the silence still speaks louder.