Torres avoids serious injury after scary collision on basepaths
This browser does not support the video element.
CLEVELAND – Tigers All-Star second baseman Gleyber Torres left Saturday’s game against the Guardians after an ugly collision on the basepaths with shortstop Brayan Rocchio, but appears to have avoided major injury.
Torres, who walked in the first inning to extend his on-base streak to 18 consecutive games, was retired on a forceout to end the inning. Cleveland second baseman Angel Martínez snared Riley Greene’s ground ball up the middle, behind the bag, and flipped the ball out of his glove toward Rocchio at second base. The Guardians got the out, but the play sent Rocchio on course with a sliding Torres, whose head seemingly collided with Rocchio’s glove arm and then hit the infield dirt hard.
Torres stayed down after the play as Tigers third-base coach Joey Cora signaled for the Tigers’ athletic training staff. After several minutes on the ground and a visit from manager A.J. Hinch, Torres left the field on his own power. Trey Sweeney entered the game at shortstop, with Javier Báez moving over to second base to replace Torres.
“He got elbowed in the neck,” Hinch said. “When we got out there, he needed a minute, and then just felt a little off. So we just erred on the side of caution and took him out. They came to me in the third or fourth and gave me the notice that he was doing well and everything was fine. So hopefully that was just a scare.”
Torres indicated he was fine as he left the clubhouse following the 1-0 Tigers win.
This browser does not support the video element.
Torres has enjoyed a stellar season in Detroit after signing a one-year contract with the Tigers as a free agent last December. He’s batting .279/.387/.424 with nine homers and 44 RBIs in 77 games. Just as impressive, he has more walks (47) than strikeouts (42) and is on pace to eclipse his career high of 67 walks set two years ago. Torres led all American League second basemen in All-Star votes in the first phase of votes, then beat out fellow finalist Jackson Holliday in the second phase to secure his third career All-Star selection and his first start.