After a seven-year roller coaster in The Bronx, Gleyber Torres arrived at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday for the first time as a visitor.
Like Torres, and his former manager Aaron Boone, the fans mostly chose to remember the good times, giving the Tigers second baseman a polite round of applause that grew louder once he tipped his helmet to them before his first at-bat in the top of the first inning.
He got another ovation following a tribute video before the second inning, to which he stepped out of the dugout and saluted the crowd again.
“He certainly deserves that [a good reception],” Boone said before Torres went 1-for-3 with a double and two walks in the Tigers’ 12-2 win.
Torres was an All-Star this season for the first time since being one in each of his first two years with the Yankees.
In between, there was a mixed bag — some solid stretches but also a fair share of struggles, including mental errors on the bases and in the field.
The Yankees did not have much interest in bringing back Torres when he became a free agent last offseason, which led to him signing a pillow contract with the Tigers for one year and $15 million.
He entered Tuesday batting .259 with a .758 OPS in 128 games this season.
“I don’t have any bad feelings with the [Yankees] organization,” Torres said. “I’m always going to be grateful for the opportunity first to trade for me from the Cubs and give me the opportunity to play in the big leagues. … To wear the pinstripes was really an honor for me.”
Torres, who Boone described as a “staple” in the Tigers lineup, said he has learned some things with his new organization that he “didn’t do in my years with the Yankees.” That includes being more aggressive on the bases.
“You know [third base coach Joey] Cora, how they run the bases,” Torres said. “Those type of situations, always aggressive on the bases. We really create more opportunities to score runs. In the first inning or the last inning, we never change our approach to running on the bases aggressive. That’s a huge part I’ve learned and tried to be on the same page with.”
In his 30th start of the season, Will Warren made it 21 starts in which he has allowed two earned runs or fewer as he delivered six strong innings of two-run ball.
“I think our job as a starter is to be able to take the ball every five days and go as deep as you can into games,” Warren said. “I’m excited about that. Just keep it rolling.”
Boone said he planned to have Aaron Judge DH on Wednesday after playing right field Tuesday, rotating with Giancarlo Stanton as he works back from a right elbow flexor strain.
Anthony Rizzo, who has not played a game since starting all five World Series games at first base for the Yankees last October, was in the crowd and received an ovation when he was shown on the video board. He responded by chugging his beer.
The Fairfield National Little League team, which finished third at the Little League World Series last month, was honored before Tuesday’s game and took the field with the Yankees.
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