After neglecting to run out a late-inning ground ball in a crucial situation, New York Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres was excluded from manager Aaron Boone’s lineup card on Wednesday. The Yankees are wrapping up their two-game series against the Mets, with Oswaldo Cabrera filling in at Torres’ usual spot at second base. Torres, aged 27, has been struggling both defensively and offensively, hitting only .215/.294/.333 with seven home runs in 80 games for the 2024 season. This marks a significant decline from his career OPS+ of 114. In the last two weeks, Torres has been even less productive, batting just .108/.222/.324.
Torres attempted to explain his failure to run out the ground ball by citing groin discomfort, but Boone mentioned that the issue was not severe. On Tuesday, Boone was cryptic when asked if Torres would be benched, but by Wednesday, he clarified that Torres needed a break to reset both mentally and physically. Tuesday night’s incident factored into this decision, with Boone emphasizing the need for Torres to perform better in the lineup.
The Yankees currently hold a 52-29 record and a two-game lead over the Orioles in the AL East. Despite this, they have struggled recently, losing five of their last six games and seven of their last nine. Additionally, they are missing key players like Anthony Rizzo and Giancarlo Stanton due to injuries. On the other hand, the Mets have the best record in June with a 14-6 record.