Gleyber Torres having bounceback season with Yankees

NEW YORK — Gleyber Torres felt as though he were on the outside looking in during the first half of this Yankees season, watching his teammates enjoy success while he experienced frustration at the plate. He was happy that the team was winning, but as he said, “I feel like I didn’t do much in those months.”

Torres rescued his campaign with a strong September, including a solid return to his role as the Bombers’ leadoff hitter, and the turnaround came just in time. If the Yankees are to advance past the Royals in this American League Division Series, setting their sights on the next two rounds, chances are that Torres will have a big hand in it.

“I felt more consistency at the plate, a little more focus in each at-bat,” Torres said on Tuesday. “I feel like I got better at the right moment, last month and right into the postseason. As a player, you have to learn from the good moments and the bad moments too.

“ … Thank God, I did a little bit better in the second half. I’m trying to still do good things for the team, especially right now in the postseason.”

Torres has been on base frequently through the first two ALDS games, homering with two walks in the Yanks’ Game 1 victory and working a couple of walks in Game 2, when he scored the team’s first run on Giancarlo Stanton’s third-inning infield single.

“A lot of times those good hitters, those good bat-to-ball guys, can show up in the postseason,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He walks into this October in a really good spot, playing really well, having an extended run now of really consistent offense for us.”

As Boone alluded, it is a continuation of the performance that Torres put forth in September, when he batted .333/.387/.472 (36-for-108) in 25 games. He’d batted just .231/.307/.347 in 93 games during the first half, a disappointing showing for Torres, a potential free agent after the season.

Boone sensed that Torres was “pressing in that spot a little bit,” possibly because of the leadoff assignment, but also perhaps the weight of uncertainty concerning his future in pinstripes. Though Torres said this spring that he’d welcome discussions about a contract extension, none took place during the season.

There had also been defensive miscues (Torres led all Major League second basemen with 18 errors) and two benchings: one for underperformance and one for a lack of hustle. Torres said that he spent the All-Star break in Tampa, Fla., where he cleared his mind and relaxed, returning refreshed for the playoff push.

Since then, Boone said that he believes Torres has been “in a really good frame of mind.” Teammate Oswaldo Cabrera agrees.

“I’m so happy for him,” Cabrera said. “To see how he turned around the season in the last couple months was so special. That’s the Gleyber that we know. Every time he came to the plate, we know that he’s going to do something. Everything is not done yet.”

Torres said that he is thankful Boone showed the confidence to restore him to the leadoff spot, a role that he enjoys. Torres said that he considers hitting ahead of Juan Soto and Aaron Judge to be a privilege, and he appreciates the opportunities that it provides.

“It’s really not easy, but I feel comfortable,” Torres said. “I know I’ve got amazing guys behind me, so I don’t have to do too much right now. I just go to home plate, follow my plan. If I don’t have anything to hit or something, I can get a walk and pass the baton for Soto and Judge and all those guys.”