Cashman: Gleyber Torres will start 2017 at Double-A
The New York Yankees may be looking towards using some of their young talent at the big-league level next season, but Gleyber Torres won't be included in those plans.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told the New York Post that Torres will begin next season in Double-A.
"He's never played above the Florida State (League)," Cashman explained to George A. King III. "Next year, he'll start at Trenton and get introduced to the cold weather of the Eastern League in April for the first time. He'll be ready whenever he's ready. I'm not currently thinking about his timeline. Once he has extensive success at Double-A level, you can start doing that. He hasn't taken that step yet."
The 19-year-old Torres - who is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Yankees organization, according to MLB Pipeline - tore up the AFL to the tune of a .403/.513/.645 slash line en route to the Joe Black MVP Award, and is one member of what looks to be a bright future in the Bronx, which also includes Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge, Clint Frazier, and Jorge Mateo.
"He had a tremendous Fall League, being the MVP and best player in that league," Cashman said. "When I was out there for the GM meetings, I went to see him play, and the buzz among all the baseball people, the scouts and front-office execs alike, was, 'This is the best player in the league.' And he was the youngest player in the league, so that's pretty exciting to hear."
Torres was a key part of a July trade with the Chicago Cubs that sent Aroldis Chapman to the Windy City.