Gleyber Torres Youngest Ever to Homer in Four Straight Games in AL
New York Yankees rookie Gleyber Torres is crushing the baseball and by doing so is adding his name to record lists for both the franchise and league.
Torres, who is just 21, set another mark on Friday when he hit a home run in the seventh inning to right feet that eventually not only proved to be the winning run for the Yankees, but the Yankees rookie became the youngest American League player to homer in four consecutive games.
His home run gave the Yankees a 2-1 victory on Friday over the Los Angeles Angels in the Bronx.
No player since the start of the live ball era in 1920 at the age of 21 years or younger has homered in five or more consecutive games.
Earlier in the week, while playing in Texas, Torres became the youngest ever Yankee in franchise history to hit a home run in three consecutive games.
Since being called up April 22 from the Yankees Triple-A affiliate, the accomplishments by Torres have been causing his name to be mentioned regularly with those such as Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio, two Hall of Fame members.
Torres said he was proud and felt good about that, but he feels even better because he is helping his team win, and that is what’s important.
Over their last 28 games since the arrival of Torres, the Yankees have won 22 and lost just six.
A walk-off home run, several clutch hits, and a recent surge in power, as all nine of the home runs hit by Torres have been during May, the Yankees youngster, who plays second base, has been one of the key contributors to the team’s success.
Manager Aaron Boone said he believes much of Torres’ early success comes from the length of time the player has spent in preparing himself for his opportunity in the big leagues.
Torres entered Friday’s game leading all rookies in the major league in batting average, home runs and runs batted in since being called up.
The season is still very young and this is just the first May of the rookie’s big league career, but if the display he has put on since being called up April 22 is any indication of the future of his big league career, the sport’s next great player has appeared on the scene.
