Gleyber Torres levels up his Yankees revenge tour during Tigers’ visit to the Bronx

Just nine months after he parted ways with the New York Yankees in rather unceremonious fashion as a free agent, Gleyber Torres received a hero's welcome when he returned to the Bronx for the first time as a member of the visiting team.

When the Yankees let Torres walk after the 2024 season, the second baseman signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the Detroit Tigers. Torres hadn't exactly been a fan favorite in New York after his numbers dipped significantly following his 38-homer season in 2019, so it wasn't a guarantee that he would be welcomed with open arms.

Torres finished the 2024 season with 15 home runs and a career-worst 136 strikeouts for the Yankees. He also led all American League second basemen with 15 errors in 2023 and 18 in 2024. Between the abysmal fielding and inconsistent hitting, the Yankees felt comfortable letting Torres walk in free agency, with plenty of fans likely thinking, "good riddance."

However, when Torres stepped into the batter's box at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, he received a loud ovation – one that got even louder when he tipped his helmet to the crowd in a gesture of appreciation. He proceeded to go 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI and run scored in the Tigers' 12-2 win, which saw the Yankees' pitching and defense implode to allow nine runs in the seventh inning.

Torres also went 1-for-5 with three RBI in the Tigers' second straight rout of the Yankees on Wednesday, with his two-run single in the fifth inning sparking Detroit's offensive onslaught against his former team.

Gleyber Torres reminds Yankees what they’re missing in Tigers’ visit to the Bronx

For both Torres and the Tigers, the signing couldn't have worked out any better. Torres earned an All-Star bid for the first time since he did it with the Yankees in back-to-back seasons in 2018 and 2019, and he has helped lead the Tigers to the top of the American League Central.

Torres is hitting .260 this season with 15 home runs, and he has drawn praise for being a clubhouse leader in Detroit. Put simply, he has had exactly the kind of season he needed to have as he looks to cash in as a free agent this winter.

Torres bet on himself with a one-year deal, and the Tigers bet on him having a resurgent season. So far, both bets have paid off – and all signs point to Torres getting paid in the offseason.

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