The New York Yankees continue to make under-the-radar signings while fans await a big splash in free agency, but their latest addition has the potential to be a great one. The Yankees signed outfielder Nick Torres after an MVP season in the Mexican League, his former team, the Algodoneros Unión Laguna, announced on X.
Torres was originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He was a great hitter at Cal Poly, hitting .309 with an .840 OPS in three seasons with the Mustangs. By 2016, he was in Triple-A for the Padres.
He never reached the big leagues and was released in 2018. He signed with the Texas Rangers, but he soon transitioned into playing in independent and international leagues. He has been playing in Mexico since 2019, and has spent the last five Mexican League seasons with the Algodoneros Unión Laguna.
He has a .343/.427/.598 slash line in five seasons with the team and 82 home runs. He hit 27 home runs last season and notched 79 RBIs on his way to winning the league’s MVP Award. He led the league in OPS as well. Torres has a chance to play a real role next season.
Right now, the Yankees are reportedly pursuing Cody Bellinger. However, if they cannot retain him, Torres could become an important depth piece. They also have Trent Grisham and Jasson Domínguez to share the outfield with Aaron Judge, but Torres could be more ready than Spencer Jones is right now.
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