| Andrés Torres | |
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Torres with the Giants in July 2010 |
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| New York Mets – No. 56 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: January 26, 1978 Aguada, Puerto Rico |
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| Bats: Switch | Throws: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| April 7, 2002 for the Detroit Tigers | |
| Career statistics (through July 16, 2011) |
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| Batting average | .249 |
| Home runs | 26 |
| Runs batted in | 115 |
| Stolen Bases | 52 |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Andrés "Yungo" Torres Jr. (born January 26, 1978 in Aguada, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball outfielder for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball.[1] He has also played for the San Francisco Giants, Detroit Tigers and the Texas Rangers.
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Torres attended Dr. Carlos Gonzalez High School and Miami-Dade Community College.[2] 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.[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] In 1997, the Florida Marlins drafted him in the twenty-third round of the Major League Baseball Draft, but he chose not to sign.[6] He was then drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the fourth round of the 1998 MLB Draft, and that time he signed.[7]
Plan A Films is producing a feature length documentary about Torres titled Gigante. The film is directed by Sundance Award-winning director Chusy Haney-Jardine.
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 AA Jacksonville Suns for a short period of time, however, he struggled in the AA league and was sent back to Lakeland. After spending 2001 with the AA 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.[8] 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]
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 AAA Charlotte Knights. After the season he filed for free agency.[9]
On November 16, 2004, Torres was signed by the Texas Rangers. He started 2005 with the AAA 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.[9]
Torres signed with the Minnesota Twins on December 25, 2005. He spent the entire 2006 season with the AAA Rochester Red Wings, batting .236 with them in 116 games. He became a free agent after the season.[9]
On March 2, 2007, Torres again signed with the Detroit Tigers.[9] He was assigned to AA, but he did so well the Tigers promoted him to AAA during the season. Following the year, he again filed for free agency.[9]
On November 20, 2007, Torres signed with the Chicago Cubs.[9] He spent the entire season with the AAA Iowa Cubs. He had a very good year, batting .306 in 118 games with 11 home runs. However, he once again filed for free agency following the season.[9]
Torres signed with the San Francisco Giants on January 9, 2009.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12] Torres had one stolen base in the World Series but was caught twice in the postseason.
On December 7, 2011, the Giants traded Torres and Ramón Ramírez to the New York Mets for Ángel Pagán.[13]
Torres is married to Soannie Mendoza.[14]
In 2002, Torres was diagnosed with Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and began taking medication to treat the condition.[15] His medication has been helpful to him, and he is currently a spokesperson for ADHD.[16]
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