Gleyber Torres and Carlos Mendoza are now not a part of the identical group, however their historical past goes again almost a decade.
Although Mendoza is on the opposite facet of city, Torres is pulling for his previous coach with the Mets and is aware of the pair might meet within the World Sequence in the event that they each advance previous their respective LCS.
“I don’t need to get too far forward as a result of we’ve to do a number of issues first, however it might be particular to see him in a Subway Sequence within the World Sequence,’’ Torres mentioned throughout the ALDS in Kansas Metropolis on Thursday. “Not only for us, however for New York. It will be superb.”
Torres and Mendoza, although, nonetheless have a connection that dates again to Torres’ commerce to the Yankees from the Cubs halfway via the 2016 season, when Aroldis Chapman was despatched to Chicago.
On the time, Torres was one of many prime prospects within the sport and Mendoza was a roving defensive teacher within the Yankees’ minor league system.
“[Mendoza] was the primary man I actually acquired to know with the Yankees and he helped me out greater than anybody once I acquired right here,’’ mentioned Torres, like Mendoza, a local of Venezuela. “After which he was with me via my complete main league profession till this 12 months.”
Earlier than Mendoza switched boroughs, Torres mentioned his previous bench coach knew how one can deal with success and failure, staying optimistic all through, but in addition getting on him when he wanted to listen to it.
Comply with The Submit’s protection of the Yankees within the postseason:
And certainly one of Mendoza’s messages rang very true to Torres.
“He would all the time inform me, ‘It’s not the way you begin, it’s the way you end.’ And that’s what occurred with each of us this 12 months: The Mets began actually gradual after which performed very well, they usually’re within the playoffs proper now. And I performed higher within the second half and hopefully within the postseason.”
Torres is having a fall to recollect, having closed out what was a shaky season heading into free company with a superb September and following that up with a stable begin to the playoffs — all out of the leadoff spot.
In his final 24 regular-season video games, Torres had an OPS of .876 after placing up an OPS of simply .673 via Sept. 1.
And whereas Torres went simply 3-for-15 towards the Royals, he had a homer and a double, in addition to 5 walks and scored a team-high 4 runs within the sequence.
The Mets additionally started to rewrite their 2024 story in September and Mendoza acquired them a wild-card spot and postseason sequence wins towards Milwaukee and Philadelphia.
“I’m actually glad for him,’’ Torres mentioned. “He’s all the time helped me and he deserves this. I assumed he can be a great supervisor, for positive. I’m glad he acquired the chance and I hope he retains going.”
