Latest news with #LuisTorrens
New York Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Juan Soto's clutch hit and a ‘big boy' performance power Mets past Dodgers
NEW YORK — On the way to the dugout after crossing home plate, New York Mets catcher Luis Torrens tapped Juan Soto, the next batter, on the chest and told him, 'Let's go.' Bases loaded. Two outs. Tie score. All in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, enders of the Mets' magical run last year, winners of the World Series. Advertisement 'It was the perfect moment,' Torrens said, 'so I just wanted to give him a little something extra.' Soto took it from there. On the fifth pitch of an at-bat against Tony Gonsolin, Soto struck a splitter loudly for a two-run double off the center-field wall. After that key hit in the fourth inning, the Mets never looked back on Saturday night at Citi Field and beat the Dodgers, 5-2. They recovered from a grueling, 13-inning loss the night before with a win that featured a few important developments, including Soto delivering with runners in scoring position. Eventually, the results just had to change, right? Despite subpar overall numbers by his standards, Soto's underlying data insists his season should look different. Per Baseball Savant, Soto owned the fifth-largest difference in MLB between his slugging percentage (.418) and his expected slugging percentage (.571). That's largely because he ranks in the top 5 percent for his hard-hit rate and his average exit velocity. Routinely, he smokes balls without a reward. 'I just call it baseball,' Soto said. 'It's gonna happen. Sometimes, you're going to hit it hard and you're going to hit it right in front of people. You've got to keep moving forward.' On Saturday, Soto's four batted balls ranked in the top 10 of the game's highest exit velocity readings: 108.3 mph (double), 102.5 mph (fly out), 102.4 mph (fly out), 102.2 mph (single). His double snapped a streak of 11 games without an extra-base hit, which was the second-longest such streak of his career. 'This guy's been very unlucky,' Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. 'It was good to see him finally get the results.' Good timing, too. Among the 92 players who logged at least 50 plate appearances with runners in scoring position heading into Saturday's slate of games, Soto ranked last in batting average (.119) in that situation. Advertisement For the Mets, woes with runners in scoring position extend well beyond Soto. The Mets went into Saturday's game carrying a .213 batting average with runners in scoring position for the season, better than only the Chicago White Sox (.207). In May, it gets worse: .195. Over the last dozen days, worse than that: .161. On Saturday, the Mets went 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position. One of those hits: Starling Marte had an infield single on a checked swing. Brett Baty owned the other two with another eye-opening performance, the kind that is locking him into must-start territory. Baty went 3-for-3 with a walk. When he returned to the Mets from Triple A, he had a .597 OPS. Now, he has a .799 OPS. By cashing in with runners in scoring position, the Mets avoided wasting a valuable performance from David Peterson. Before the problem with runners in scoring position really became a thing, the Mets' previous bugaboo while they were hot was a lack of length from their starters. In March/April, the Mets' starters pitched at least six innings in a game only seven times. Quietly, that's no longer much of a problem. After Peterson's gem on Saturday, they've already achieved that feat 11 times in May with a week left in the month. New York needed eight pitchers in Friday's marathon loss. Peterson (7 2/3 brilliant innings) and Edwin Díaz (three strikeouts) ensured the Mets needed only two on Saturday. The highlight for Peterson was striking out Shohei Ohtani three times by mixing his pitches, avoiding the middle of the strike zone, and, in Mendoza's words, 'making him look human.' 'He knew the assignment,' Mendoza said. 'That's a big boy's performance right there.' At the end of a tough week in which they won two of six games, the Mets finally received a few of those. (Top photo of Juan Soto: Elsa / Getty Images)
Forbes
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
The Red Sox Swindled The Yankees Out Of A Potential All-Star Catcher
New York Mets' Luis Torrens, left, is tagged out by Boston Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez while ... More trying to score on a single by Brett Baty during the first inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) If you were to rank all the trades from this offseason by which generated the most headlines, the Kyle Tucker trade would probably be first. The deal that sent Carlos Narváez from the New York Yankees to the Boston Red Sox wouldn't be dead last if only because of the two teams involved, but it would be close to the bottom. Since that humble transaction, he has blossomed into one of MLB's best catchers. In 37 games this year, Narváez is hitting .291/.357/.480 with five home runs. He went 3-5 with a pair of doubles and a walk in yesterday's 19-5 dismantling of the Orioles. His 132 OPS+ indicates his overall offense has been 32% better than the league average, and his 1.9 WAR (Baseball-Reference version) is tied for second in MLB among catchers. He has shined behind the plate just as much as in the batter's box. He is credited with 2.5 Framing Runs by FanGraphs, and his eight Defensive Runs Saved are tied for the MLB lead by a catcher. He's also atop the American League leaderboard with 10 runners caught stealing. Narváez was never as heralded as his older cousin, Omar Narváez, who has played parts of 10 MLB seasons. He signed with the Yankees as a 16-year-old amateur from Venezuela in 2015, and progressed slowly through their system. He finally made it to New York last year at the age of 25, playing six games and going 3-13. This offseason, the Yankees were in a crunch for 40-man roster spots. They sent him to their Boston rivals for 21-year-old right-hander Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, who is currently pitching for Hudson Valley in High-A. This proved to be short-sighted, not only because of Narváez's emergence, but because they sent established backup catcher Jose Trevino to the Cincinnati Reds a few weeks later. As a result, the Yankees have struggled to find production out of the catcher position this year. Starter Austin Wells has a .268 on-base percentage and backup J.C. Escarra is hitting .175/.306/.325. They're also both left-handed hitters, so the club is really missing out on a strong right-handed bat like Narváez. While he will receive All-Star consideration, making the team isn't a certainty, especially since several catchers around the league are enjoying an offensive renaissance. Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners is the best catcher in MLB by far this season. The reigning Platinum Glove winner is tied with Aaron Judge for the American League lead in home runs with 17. Logan O'Hoppe of the Los Angeles Angels isn't far behind with 14 homers, but he trails Narváez substantially in on-base percentage and on all advanced defensive metrics. The most famous trade between the Yankees and Red Sox sent Babe Ruth to New York in 1920, and Boston will never live that down. They also shipped a handful of other Hall of Famers to the Yankees in subsequent years, such as Herb Pennock and Red Ruffing, before the two teams practically ceased trading with each other altogether. The Narváez deal was an exception to the embargo. It hardly counteracts the Ruth trade, but the Red Sox hoodwinked the Yankees out of a star backstop from the one of the most minor transactions of the offseason.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mets' Pete Alonso thinks ahead to possible Subway Series against Yankees, saying `It'd be sick'
New York Mets catcher Luis Torrens (13) and pitcher Edwin Díaz (39) celebrate after defeating the New York Yankees following a baseball game, Saturday, May 17, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray) New York Mets' Brett Baty (7) reacts after being tagged out by New York Yankees catcher J.C. Escarra at home plate during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 17, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray) New York Mets' Francisco Lindor (12) scores a run against the New York Yankees during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 17, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray) New York Mets' Pete Alonso (20) hits an RBI single scoring Francisco Lindor during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, May 17, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray) New York Mets pitcher Edwin Díaz (39) reacts after striking out New York Yankees' Aaron Judge to close out the ninth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 17, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray) New York Mets pitcher Edwin Díaz (39) reacts after striking out New York Yankees' Aaron Judge to close out the ninth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 17, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray) New York Mets catcher Luis Torrens (13) and pitcher Edwin Díaz (39) celebrate after defeating the New York Yankees following a baseball game, Saturday, May 17, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray) New York Mets' Brett Baty (7) reacts after being tagged out by New York Yankees catcher J.C. Escarra at home plate during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 17, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray) New York Mets' Francisco Lindor (12) scores a run against the New York Yankees during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 17, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray) New York Mets' Pete Alonso (20) hits an RBI single scoring Francisco Lindor during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, May 17, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray) New York Mets pitcher Edwin Díaz (39) reacts after striking out New York Yankees' Aaron Judge to close out the ninth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 17, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray) NEW YORK (AP) — After listening to Yankees fans rail at Juan Soto for two days, New York Mets star Pete Alonso thought about the possibility of a Subway Series this October. 'It'd be electric," he said following the Mets' 3-2 win Saturday. 'Any chance we can avoid the Van Wyck, that'd be great.' Advertisement Alonso would love the chance to play an environmentally friendly World Series entirely in New York and avoid the perpetually congested expressway leading to John F. Kennedy International Airport. Subway Series spark memories of Don Larsen's perfect game, clutch catches by Al Gionfriddo and Sandy Amoros, and David Cone coming out of the bullpen to retire Mike Piazza. With the Mets and Yankees leading their divisions a quarter of the way through the regular season, there's a chance of the first Subway Series since 2000 but a long way to go. Even for a regular-season meeting on a Saturday afternoon, the sellout crowd of 47,510 at Yankee Stadium was amped up — especially when booing Soto, who helped the Yankees reach the World Series last year and then bolted across town for a record $765 million, 15-year contract with the Mets. 'Typically I do a pretty good job of blocking the noise out,' Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt said. 'There was a time where he was up I had to turn up the PitchCom because it was tough to hear.' Advertisement Winners of a record 27 titles but none since 2009, the Yankees lead the AL East at 26-19. The Mets, boosted by hedge fund owner Steve Cohen's fortune, top the NL East at 29-17 as they seek their third championship and first since 1986. Last year, the Mets lost in the National League Championship Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who beat the Yankees in the World Series. While there were 13 Subway Series from 1921-56 — six between the Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers and seven between Yankees and New York Giants — there has been only one since. 'It'd be sick,' Alonso said. 'That'd be probably the best postseason matchup ever because you don't have to go on the road. You have seven home games. ... You don't have to worry about dealing with all the great wall of traffic out of JFK.' A day after the Yankees won the opener of six regular-season meetings 6-2, Francisco Lindor's ninth-inning sacrifice fly off Fernando Cruz broke a 2-all tie and Edwin Díaz ended the game by getting Aaron Judge to swing over a 98.6 mph full-count fastball. A runner on each team was thrown at the plate, and an umpire interference call on himself by James Jean negated a Yankees double steal. Advertisement 'That's what you call a big league game, big league matchup. Every pitch was intense, every play," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. 'That's what you pay for, to come and watch a big league game when you got two teams with a lot of superstars.' Soto went 1 for 4 with a walk and is 1 for 6 with four walks in his first two games back in the Bronx, booed noisily each time he walked to the plate or touched the ball defensively. He threw some shade two pitches into his first at-bat Saturday — he tossed his mirrored sunglasses on a perfect spring afternoon, deciding he'd see better without them. Soto tipped his helmet to the crowd before his first plate appearance Friday and provided another moment of levity in the fifth inning Saturday when he shook a 'no' to Schmidt after the pitcher started to the dugout following a 2-2 knuckle-curve at the low, outside corner. Jean called ball three, and Soto wound up walking. 'I thought out of the hand it was a ball and it was a ball,' Schmidt said. Advertisement Consistent throughout the season, the Mets are the only team that hasn't had a three-game losing streak. And while players and staff are focused on the next game, fans have the luxury to dream ahead to a 15th Subway Series. 'I'm sure,' Yankees manager Aaron Boone said, 'it would be pretty cool.' ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLB》界外球打到要害傷退 大都會捕手：有戴護襠但還是有點…
紐約大都會捕手托倫斯（Luis Torrens）今天先發上陣，但打到一半卻傷退，原因是他被擦棒球打到鼠蹊部，一度痛到無法起身，賽後總教練門多薩（Carlos Mendoza）透露，子弟兵目前狀況好多了。 托倫斯今天擔任球隊先發捕手、打第七棒，本場比賽首打席就建功，面對芝加哥 小熊先發投手鮑伊德（Matthew Boyd）擊出左外野打在全壘打牆上的三壘安打，幫助球隊首開紀錄，不過他卻在6局上半傷退，當時塔克（Kyle Tucker）打出界外球，結果球擦到球棒後，便朝著他的鼠蹊部過去，導致他的重要部位被擊中，一度無法起身，顯然相當疼痛。 Here's the foul ball from Kyle Tucker that took Luis Torrens out of the game. Hoping the injury is nothing serious ? — SleeperMets (@SleeperMets) May 11, 2025 所幸托倫斯後來仍有辦法自行起身，但大都會決定先讓他打卡下班，換上球隊主戰捕手阿瓦雷茲（Francisco Alvarez）接替蹲捕工作。 托倫斯賽後向媒體透露：「我現在沒事了，我當時戴著護襠，但還是有點…」大都會總教練門多薩則說：「我很高興他能夠走到休息區，他現在情況好多了。」 Luis Torrens hits one off the wall for an RBI triple and the Mets take the lead! (Via @TheRokuChannel) — SNY (@SNYtv) May 11, 2025 至於這場比賽，大都會與小熊打完前7局戰成2-2平手，不過大都會在8局下半展開反攻，林多（Francisco Lindor）、尼莫（Brandon Nimmo）相繼炸裂，幫助球隊一口氣拿下4分，最終大都會就以6-2擊敗小熊，收下勝利。 更多新聞推薦 • 更多》MLB最新報導
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Luis Torrens has proven he deserves a shot. Now Mets backup catcher adapts to lesser role
Luis Torrens knows that what he's encountering with the Mets is just part of the business of baseball. All a player can do is play up to their potential. After a little more than a month into the baseball season, the 29-year-old catcher did just that and deepened the level of trust from the Mets coaching staff. Advertisement It started with an opportunity and perhaps a question. When Francisco Alvarez was sidelined with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand in early March, could Torrens shoulder the load as the Mets' regular starting catcher? New York Mets catcher Luis Torrens (13) hits a two run single in the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies on April 22, 2025, at Citi Field. Torrens showed he could with the 23-year-old starting catcher on the mend, leading the Mets' pitching staff to the best ERA in baseball, playing elite defense and slashing .241/.279/.397 with one home run, six doubles and eight RBI in 21 games. "I just want to help my team win. That's all I care about," Torrens said. "Sometimes throwing people out, sometimes making the right calls, sometimes blocking the ball, sometimes receiving. You're always trying to be good in everything. It's hard to be good, but just trying to be my best version that day." Advertisement Since being acquired by the Mets in a trade with the Yankees for cash last May, Torrens has carved out a role with the team. Early this season, he took it a step further. Now comes his toughest task: maintaining that level consistently while seeing irregular playing time. Luis Torrens provides elite defense St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28, left) is caught in a rundown between third and home and is eventually tagged out by New York Mets catcher Luis Torrens (13) on May 4, 2025, at Busch Stadium. A season ago, the Mets were one of the worst teams in MLB in curbing opponents on the bases. The Mets' opposition stole 140 bases against them — an average of .86 steals per game, fourth-worst in the league. When Torrens arrived, he proved to help in that area, throwing out 48 percent of attempting base-steals. Advertisement So far this season, with Torrens and Hayden Senger receiving the majority of the chances behind the plate in the early going, the Mets have limited opponents to 14 stolen bases — .39 per game, second-best in MLB. Torrens has been a big reason why. He's thrown out six of the 12 stolen base attempts this season. He called it a team effort to ensure that teams' running games are held in check. "He's got that ability," Mets catching coordinator Glen Sherlock said. "He's able to get the ball in his hand and really get off a quality throw and stay very consistent with it." Torrens takes pride in his defense. He made one of the biggest defensive highlights last season in the London Series when he jump-started a game-clinching double play. Advertisement As a more-than-capable backstop, that's one area where Torrens has earned a shot. "It's good when people are comparing you with the best in the game (on defense), and I'm just trying to keep working and keep getting better in other parts of my game to be an elite player," Torrens said. "Especially when you play for the Mets, it's a good opportunity to show the world." Now, Luis Torrens has proven he can hit New York Mets catcher Luis Torrens (13) talks with Athletics first baseman Tyler Soderstrom (21) after hitting an RBI-single during the sixth inning on April 13, 2025, at Sutter Health Park. One of those big areas of improvement for Torrens has been at the plate this season, where through 36 games, he is hitting the ball hard 56.9 percent of the time and barreling it 17.6 percent of the time. Advertisement For Torrens, that early success comes down to consistency. "I always say the confidence you have when you play often, that helps a lot, for sure," Torrens said. "Just how I prepare myself before the games and so far it works well, so keep doing that." In Torrens' mechanics, Mets hitting coach Jeremy Barnes sees a more efficient lower half when the catcher is at the plate, a product of some changes to his body position and holding his load. More than half of Torrens' 16 hits this season have gone to the opposite field. "If I'm not in good position, I may be flying out or having to use my hands a lot more," Barnes said. "I like his whole approach and how he's been going about things. We always knew he's a talented player, but it's cool to get to see it play out." Staying fresh It's no secret that Alvarez figures to get the lion's share of playing time now that he's back behind the plate. Advertisement Alvarez proved his potential during his rookie season in 2023 when he became just the second rookie catcher in history to poke 25 home runs, joining the elite company of Johnny Bench. But now, Torrens has shown the added wrinkle of offensive efficiency to his capable defense. And the challenge for the 29-year-old and the coaching staff is keeping him in a position to keep that quality going. "There's no way we can replicate a game but just trying to stay on top of velocity, mixed pitch BP, that type of thing," Barnes said. "It can keep him as sharp as possible. And keeping the swing simple. If we get real complex with our timing and all that kind of stuff, it's hard to stay on top of if we're not getting regular at-bats." For Torrens, it's back to making the most of his opportunities. Advertisement "I know this is something you have to earn," Torrens. "Nobody is going to give it to you. Just take advantage of the opportunities and keep trying to do my best on the field." It's another good problem for the Mets to have. "It only helps our team to basically have two catchers that can be starters anywhere in the league, almost," Barnes said. "Obviously Alvy is special and incredible, but Luis, to me, is a starter in this league, as well. To have both of those guys on our team, we're really blessed with that." This article originally appeared on NY Mets: Luis Torrens proved his worth, now he adapts to lesser role
