New York Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres is struggling, and it's beginning to translate to other parts of his game.
Players go through ruts all the time, and it's very easy for the mental side of the game to be negatively impacted when one is struggling.
Torres is seemingly at that point.
MORE: Gerrit Cole makes Yankees history, but for the wrong reasons
After Yankees captain Aaron Judge got the team back in the game with a dramatic grand slam in the top of the eighth inning, cutting the Mets lead to 9-7, Torres was up next in the cleanup spot—the first time this season he's hit in that spot.
Despite the spark Judge provided, Torres couldn't be bothered to run out a ground ball that ended the inning in the very next at-bat. The YES broadcast booth took notice.
"I mean, you can't do that," Michael Kay said in reference to Torres' lack of hustle.
The booth was not happy with Gleyber's lack of hustle on the last out of the 8th inning
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) June 26, 2024
"He's just wearing it right now emotionally, and that's generally a sign when, you know what, maybe you need a little break" - David Cone pic.twitter.com/AWCzlyEL4I
Paul O'Neill and David Cone were a bit lighter on Torres, noting that sometimes the struggles are difficult to overcome mentally.
"This game will beat you down to the point where—you're right Michael. You can't, you shouldn't. But the game just wears you out," said O'Neill.
Torres is hitting .217 with seven home runs and a .632 OPS while leading all second basemen in errors.
"He's just wearing it right now emotionally, and that's generally a sign when, you know what, maybe you need a little break," Cone said.
Regardless, it's not a good look for Torres, who's in a contract year. It's never wrong to run out a ground ball. It's always wrong not to.
Would he still have been out? Most likely. But that lack of effort isn't going to play well with Yankees fans, and nor should it.
For the best and latest New York Yankees news and analysis, check out our team home page every day.
