Gleyber Torres didn’t feel sick, but he also couldn’t leave his home in Tampa as he quarantined after testing positive for COVID-19.
Torres, who had the virus once before and had been fully vaccinated, was the lone player to test positive following the outbreak of breakthrough cases that resulted in eight positive test results among members of the Yankees traveling party. As a result, he was away from the team from May 11 until May 19, when he was back in the lineup after returning from the COVID-19 list.
In between was a lot of waiting around, but a lot of work.
“It was a little difficult because you couldn’t do anything outside your house,” Torres said. “I feel like mentally was the most important part of that situation. Most days I just tried to be focused. I know I can’t do anything out on a field, I just tried moving around in my house.”
Torres had his dad throw with him when he could, and watched the Yankees every night, wondering how he was back in quarantine after being vaccinated, along with the majority of the team earlier this season. But fortunately, Torres was one of seven of the eight members that were asymptomatic, which general manager Brian Cashman credited to all of the members being vaccinated.
“When one of the trainers called me and told me I had COVID, I said ‘are you sure?’” Torres said. “Everybody was confused about it. I got vaccinated and everything. I was surprised I got COVID two times, but thank God I didn’t feel anything. I heard a lot about how it’s not a good feeling when you get COVID, so thank God I didn’t feel anything.”
Torres went onto the COVID-19 list after showing signs of life at the plate, having batted .277 with his first home run of the season over his previous 12 games. But the season as a whole had been off to a disappointing start, and Torres took the down time to revisit his swing to try and rediscover his All-Star self from 2019.
“Those days helped me a lot to focus and see the videos and watch myself and just try to be the same guy I was two years ago,” Torres said. “Just coming in more focused and trying to be good for my team.”
Those video sessions in quarantine seemed to pay immediate dividends. Torres went 2-for-2 with a walk in his first game back, and made it four straight times reaching base since coming off the COVID list after he singled in his first at-bat on Thursday. His batting average over the last 13 games is over the .300 mark, and a level production closer to his 2019 or 2020 postseason levels would be a huge boost for an offense decimated by injuries and still waiting to break out.
“I was really happy to be back with my team,” Torres said. “Coming to the field last night, I was really excited. I’m happy to be back…and to play again.”
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