Torres wins AFL Player of Week again

Yankees' 19-year-old prospect earns honor for second time in a month

November 15th, 2016

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- On July 25, the Chicago Cubs acquired closer from the New York Yankees for pitcher and Minor Leaguers Rashad Crawford, and , the prized prospect among the quartet New York received.
Torres, the Yankees' No. 2 prospect, hit .600 in the Arizona Fall League last week, going 9-for-15 with a double, a triple, three RBIs, three runs scored and two walks. And on Tuesday the 19-year-old was named the league's Player of the Week for the second time in four weeks.
"It's exciting and I'm very proud of it, this is the second time and it makes me want to keep going," said Torres, who played for Class A Advanced Tampa after the trade.
"I just try to keep things simple, not trying to do too much. I'm just trying to get my pitch and concentrate on hitting the ball in the middle of the field or go the other way, but at the end of the day it's just trying to keep things simple."
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Heading into Tuesday's games, Torres, the youngest player in the AFL, was tied for the league lead in batting average (.379), was tops the circuit in on-base percentage (.500), was second in slugging (.621) and tied for fifth in walks with 14.
He recorded three straight multi-hit games last week, including two 3-for-4 performances. While he has previously played in Arizona -- participating in the Arizona Rookie League in 2014 -- Torres said the familiarity hasn't been a major factor in his success.

"Obviously knowing the city, knowing the stadiums might help a little but I'm just trying to go out there and have some fun," Torres said. "I know I'm familiar with a lot of the ballparks, but I'm just trying to have fun."
The 6-foot-1 Venezuelan is baseball's No. 17 prospect overall and No. 6 shortstop.
The Cubs signed then-16-year-old Torres in 2013 for $1.7 million, and he moved quickly through the Cubs' Minor League system, including winning a Carolina League championship in 2015 with with the Pelicans, before Chicago sent him to New York.

Torres had one word to describe his career leading up to the conclusion of the Arizona Fall League:
"It has all been exciting," he said. "Obviously winning a championship is exciting and the opportunity to play in the All-Star Game here around all of the good players here is exciting and all of the awards here, everything is really exciting."
Others receiving consideration for Week 5 honors were Glendale first baseman Cody Bellinger (Dodgers) and Salt River outfielder (Tigers).