Report: Yankees grooming Torres to replace Headley this season

New York City could witness the promotion of Gleyber Torres much sooner than expected.

The Yankees are apparently grooming their top prospect to take over third base from Chase Headley later this season, a team source told Randy Miller of NJ.com.

Torres, a natural shortstop, was recently promoted from Double-A Trenton to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre where he's played both short and third base.

Although he's been struggling with the bat, hitting just .207/.361/.214 with three RBIs, Torres has been lauded for his maturity and baseball intelligence, according to Miller.

If Headley were to be replaced at third, the Yankees still intend to keep him for the 2017 season and have him fill a utility role, according to Miller's source.

A 20-year-old Venezuelan, Torres is ranked by MLB Pipeline as baseball's No. 2 prospect behind Yoan Moncada, and was acquired from the Chicago Cubs as part of last season's Aroldis Chapman trade.