Andrés Torres
| Andrés Torres | |
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 Andrés Torres with the Giants |
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| San Francisco Giants – No. 56 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: January 26, 1978 Paterson, New Jersey |
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| Bats: Switch | Throws: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| April 7, 2002 for the Detroit Tigers | |
| Career statistics (through May 1, 2013) |
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| Batting average | .240 |
| Home runs | 30 |
| Runs batted in | 155 |
| Stolen bases | 75 |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Andrés Yungo Torres Feliciano[1] (born January 26, 1978) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball outfielder for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. He has also played for the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, and the New York Mets.
Early life[edit]
Torres was born in Paterson, New Jersey, and moved to Aguada, Puerto Rico with his family when he was one year old.[2][3] He played very little baseball as a child in Puerto Rico, and did not become serious about becoming a professional baseball player until he was 18.[4][5] He attended Dr. Carlos Gonzalez High School and Miami-Dade Community College.[6] He was a track and field star at Miami Dade, running the 100 meters in 10.37 seconds, the second fastest recorded 100 meter time for all major league baseball players, behind Deion Sanders' 10.26.[7] In 1997, the Florida Marlins drafted him in the twenty-third round of the Major League Baseball Draft, but he chose not to sign.[8] He was then drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the fourth round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft, and that time he signed.[9]
Career[edit]
Detroit Tigers (2002–2004; first stint)[edit]
Torres failed to bat higher than .236 his first two years in the minors, but he did steal several bases. However, in 2000, while playing for the Lakeland Tigers, Torres posted what was arguably the best minor league season in his career. With Lakeland, he batted .296 with 65 stolen bases. During that season, he was promoted to the Double-A Jacksonville Suns for a short period of time, however, he struggled and was sent back to Lakeland. After spending 2001 with the Double-A Erie SeaWolves, Torres made the Detroit Tigers roster in 2002. However, he struggled in the majors, and was sent down shortly after the season began. He spent most of the year with the triple-A Toledo Mud Hens after that, and was called up in September after the minor league season was over.
The next season, Torres failed to make the Tigers out of spring training, but he split the season between Detroit and Toledo. On September 14, Torres hit his first home run, a solo shot off of Jimmy Gobble of the Kansas City Royals.[10] Torres made the Tigers roster again in 2004, but he only appeared in three games (and didn't even have a plate appearance) before the Tigers attempted to outright him to the minors. Instead of going to the minors, Torres requested his release. He was granted free agency on April 22.[5]
Chicago White Sox (2004)[edit]
Just four days after getting released by the Tigers, Torres signed with the Chicago White Sox. He spent the rest of the 2004 season in the minor leagues, playing very well with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights. After the season he filed for free agency.[11]
Texas Rangers (2005)[edit]
On November 16, 2004, Torres was signed by the Texas Rangers. He started 2005 with the Triple-A Oklahoma RedHawks, but he only played in 15 games before getting called up by the Rangers. However, the Rangers released him on June 12 after he batted .158 in 8 games with them.[11]
Minnesota Twins (2006)[edit]
Torres signed with the Minnesota Twins on December 25, 2005. He spent the entire 2006 season with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings, batting .236 with them in 116 games. He became a free agent after the season.[11]
Detroit Tigers (2007; second stint)[edit]
On March 2, 2007, Torres again signed with the Detroit Tigers.[11] He was assigned to Double-A, but the Tigers promoted him to Triple-A during the season. Following the year, he again filed for free agency.[11]
Chicago Cubs (2008)[edit]
On November 20, 2007, Torres signed with the Chicago Cubs.[11] He spent the entire season with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, batting .306 in 118 games with 11 home runs. However, the Cubs did not re-sign him and he once again filed for free agency following the season.[11]
San Francisco Giants (2009–2011)[edit]
Torres signed with the San Francisco Giants on January 9, 2009.[11] Except for a minor league rehab assignment, he spent the entire year in the majors. On June 15 he hit the 48th "Splash Hit" at AT&T Park.[12] He finished the year with a career high .270 batting average. In 2010, he became the Giants' official starting center fielder after Aaron Rowand suffered an injury. On the morning of September 12, he woke up with severe stomach pain and was diagnosed with appendicitis. He underwent an appendectomy the same day.[13] He returned to the lineup roughly two weeks later, and on October 1 it was announced that he had won the 2010 Willie Mac Award. He finished the year having led the Giants in stolen bases with 26.[14] Torres had a home run off Colby Lewis in Game 3 of the 2010 World Series. Torres also had one stolen base in the World Series but was caught twice in the postseason.
New York Mets (2012)[edit]
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On December 7, 2011, the Giants traded Torres and Ramón Ramírez to the New York Mets for Ángel Pagán.[15]
In January 2012, the Mets and Torres settled their case of arbitration. Torres earned approximately $2.7 million for the 2012 season.
On April 5, 2012, Torres re-injured his calf--which he had previously hurt during 2012 spring training--and spent much of the early part of the season on the disabled list.
Second stint with the San Francisco Giants (2013-present)[edit]
On December 13, 2012, Torres agreed to a one-year non-conditional contract to return to the San Francisco Giants, pending a physical examination.[16]
Personal life[edit]
Torres is married to Soannie Mendoza.[17]
In 2002, Torres was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and began taking medication to treat the condition.[18] His medication has been helpful to him, and he is currently a spokesperson for ADHD.[19] Plan A Films is producing a feature length documentary about Torres titled Gigante, discussing his ADHD. The film is directed by Chusy Haney-Jardine.[20]
References[edit]
- ^ Torres says middle name incorrectly given in Giants press guide as "Vungo," but that his name is, properly, Andrés Torres Jr. and that "Yungo," not "Vungo," is his nickname. Baggarly, Andrew (August 3, 2010). "Torres' Career Takes Off With Giants". San Jose Mercury News.
- ^ Keh, Andrew (December 17, 2011). "New Film Tells Story of Torres’s Struggles With A.D.H.D.". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved March 27, 2012.
- ^ Puma, Mike (February 23, 2012). "Torres relishing challenge of leading off for Mets". New York Post (News Corporation). Retrieved March 27, 2012.
- ^ Lemire, Joe (2010-10-13). "Speedy Andres Torres fast becoming invaluable to Giants". Sports Illustrated. Vibe Media Group. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
- ^ a b http://www.minorleagueball.com/2010/8/27/1654279/andres-torres-prospect-retro
- ^ http://www.thebaseballcube.com/transactions/T/Andres-Torres.shtml
- ^ "Andres Torres is Mr. Irreplaceable for Giants". Comcast Sports Bay Area. March 10, 2011.
- ^ http://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?query_type=year_round&year_ID=1997&draft_round=23&draft_type=junreg
- ^ http://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?query_type=year_round&year_ID=1998&draft_round=4&draft_type=junreg
- ^ http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2003/B09140DET2003.htm
- ^ a b c d e f g h http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/torrean02.shtml
- ^ http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2009/B06150SFN2009.htm
- ^ Baggarly, Andrew (2010-09-12). "Giants: Andres Torres has appendectomy, out at least 10 days". The Mercury News. Vibe Media Group. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
- ^ http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/stats/sortable_player_stats.jsp?c_id=sf
- ^ Haft, Chris (December 7, 2011). "Giants snag Pagan in trade with Mets". MLB.com. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
- ^ "Torres reaches agreement to return to Giants on one-year deal". TSN.ca. December 13, 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
- ^ http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=400083
- ^ Liotta, Tim (2010-09-05). "Minor league journeyman Torres a true find for Giants". The San Francisco Examiner. Vibe Media Group. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
- ^ http://www.extremegiantsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=321
- ^ http://www.chron.com/entertainment/article/Movie-to-tell-story-of-Torres-ADHD-struggles-2403857.php
External links[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Andrés Torres |
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- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- Gigante
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- 1978 births
- Living people
- People from Aguada, Puerto Rico
- Major League Baseball outfielders
- Major League Baseball players from Puerto Rico
- Jamestown Jammers players
- Miami Dade Sharks baseball players
- West Michigan Whitecaps players
- Lakeland Tigers players
- Jacksonville Suns players
- Erie SeaWolves players
- Toledo Mud Hens players
- Bristol White Sox players
- Charlotte Knights players
- Oklahoma RedHawks players
- Rochester Red Wings players
- Iowa Cubs players
- Arizona League Giants players
- San Jose Giants players
- Fresno Grizzlies players
- Detroit Tigers players
- Texas Rangers players
- San Francisco Giants players
- New York Mets players
- All-Star Futures Game players
- Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players
- St. Lucie Mets players
