Yanks call up top prospect Gleyber Torres

NEW YORK -- Gleyber Torres is trying on his Yankees pinstripes. The 21-year-old infielder is in the lineup batting eighth and playing second base against the Blue Jays on Sunday.
"I'm super happy," Torres told reporters in Moosic, Pa., where he was removed after six innings in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's 6-5 loss to Toledo. "It's like a dream is coming true. I'm happy for my family."
Torres, baseball's No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was off to a hot start in the Minors this year, batting .347/.393/.510 with five extra-base hits and 11 RBIs in 14 games in Triple-A.
• What to expect from Torres in big leagues
Initially believing that he had been pulled from Saturday's game for showing frustration on a fifth-inning groundout to the pitcher, Torres beamed after learning of his promotion from manager Bobby Mitchell, and then celebrated with his RailRiders teammates. Torres' first call was to his parents, whom he said cried after hearing the news.
Torres competed for the Yankees' starting second-base job in Spring Training, but he showed signs of rust as he returned from season-ending Tommy John surgery on his left (non-throwing) elbow and was optioned to Triple-A on March 13.
"100 percent, super excited," Torres said. "Last year is like a tough year for me. The spring was a little difficult, but coming into the season and now going to the big leagues, I'm super excited and happy. I can't wait for the first game."

It is not yet clear how the Yankees intend to deploy Torres, but it is possible that he could replace infielder Tyler Wade, who made the Opening Day roster but has gone 3-for-35 (.086) in 13 games. Manager Aaron Boone has been offering playing time to Miguel Andújar and Ronald Torreyes over Wade.
While Torres is a natural shortstop, the Yankees have been working to expand his versatility over the last calendar year. Torres started eight of his 13 games this season at third base, and he started at second base in both of his last two games.
"If he comes over to play with us, we're going to receive him with open arms," Andujar said after the Yankees' 9-1 victory over the Blue Jays on Saturday. "He's a good friend and a really good ballplayer who has a lot of talent."

Had Torres not been injured on a headfirst slide into home plate last June, general manager Brian Cashman has speculated that Torres would have been promoted to the big leagues, perhaps reducing the urgency for the midseason trade that imported third baseman Todd Frazier.
Cashman repeatedly said that service time would not be a consideration in evaluating Torres' readiness, but his slow spring made it an easy call for the club to have him begin the year in Triple-A. Because Torres spent more than 20 days in the Minors, his free agency will be delayed until after the 2024 season, meaning he will be under team control for seven years rather than six.
The last younger position player to debut for the Yankees at any time was Melky Cabrera, who debuted at 20 years, 330 days on July 7, 2005. The youngest position player to debut for the team before July 1 was Derek Jeter on May 29, 1995.
New York acquired Torres from the Cubs in July 2016 as part of the Aroldis Chapman deal. Torres ended that season by becoming the youngest Most Valuable Player and batting champion (.403) in Arizona Fall League history, earning those honors at age 19.
"Any player who plays baseball dreams of playing in the big leagues," Torres said. "For sure, it's my dream."