Andres Torres

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #16 prospect in 2003
  Torres got his shot in the major leagues last season and was underwhelming. He didn't make enough contact or get on base frequently enough to make much use of his speed, and his throwing arm was a problem in center field. He played better in Triple-A but still wasn't the player the Tigers hoped he would be at this point. They believe he has gotten too big, bulking up considerably from when he was drafted as a raw project who had more experience with track than with baseball during his youth in Puerto Rico. His skills aren't designed for a power game and he must accept that his ticket is playing small ball. He needs to put more balls in play and learn to bunt better to take advantage of his blazing wheels. Torres sometimes takes odd routes to balls, but he has the tools to become an above-average center fielder if his throwing arm recovers. He once had a solid average arm, but he had shoulder surgery in 2001 and his throws lacked strength and carry last year. His mechanics also looked awkward. Detroit may have found its center fielder and leadoff man with an offseason trade for Eugene Kingsale, so Torres likely will get more time in Triple-A.
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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #6 prospect in 2002
  Torres ran a lot of track and played little baseball during his youth in Puerto Rico. He didn't begin switch-hitting until he was at Miami-Dade Community College North. Following a breakout season in high Class A in 2000, he had an up-and-down year in Double-A in 2001 that was cut short by surgery on his sore throwing shoulder. Torres has excellent speed. He's consistently timed at 4.0 seconds from the right side of home to first base and has plenty of range in center field. He has improved as a hitter, particularly from the left side. His arm injury shouldn't cause long-term problems, and he makes accurate throws. To take full advantage of his speed, he needs to make more consistent contact. He needs better basestealing technique because he gets thrown out too often. Though he can cover vast amounts of ground, Torres often gets turned around or takes poor angles on balls hit directly over his head. At times, he has shown a lack of maturity. The Tigers desperately need a center fielder at the major league level and Torres is the prime candidate coming through the system. He likely will start 2002 at Triple-A Toledo and will get a chance in the majors as soon as his performance warrants.
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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #7 prospect in 2001
  Raised in Puerto Rico, Torres was still raw when drafted by the Tigers. He didn't hit well his first two seasons but broke through in 2000. Torres has better than average speed, getting from home to first in 4.0 seconds from the right side of the plate. He starts quickly and has developed a good feel for stealing bases. He didn't start switch-hitting until he was in junior college and has made progress from the left side. He has good range as a center fielder and throws adequately. Torres needs to get stronger and drive the ball with more authority. He can be overpowered by a good fastball and isn't selective enough, given the threat he presents on the bases. He runs himself into outs sometimes on batted balls. On defense, he has a tendency to turn the wrong way on fly balls. Juan Encarnacion isn't anything special as a center fielder, so Detroit is looking forward to putting Torres in center and Encarnacion in right in a couple of years.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Florida State League #10 prospect in 2000
  If Brian Cole was the most exciting player in the league, Torres was at least on the ballot. He was a track star in high school and started playing baseball relatively late, but his raw athletic ability is starting to translate into baseball ability now. Torres has lots of speed, which makes him a threat on the bases and a great defensive outfielder. He can run down just about anything. He's learning to put the ball in play to make use of his speed, and he still has to learn all the fine points of basestealing. If he develops as expected, he'll be a prototype leadoff hitter. Some managers weren't convinced he could do that. "He's just a little speed guy who steals meaningless bases," one said. "He'll steal third late in a game when it doesn't matter."

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  If Brian Cole was the most exciting player in the league, Torres was at least on the ballot. He was a track star in high school and started playing baseball relatively late, but his raw athletic ability is starting to translate into baseball ability now. Torres has lots of speed, which makes him a threat on the bases and a great defensive outfielder. He can run down just about anything. He's learning to put the ball in play to make use of his speed, and he still has to learn all the fine points of basestealing. If he develops as expected, he'll be a prototype leadoff hitter. Some managers weren't convinced he could do that. "He's just a little speed guy who steals meaningless bases," one said. "He'll steal third late in a game when it doesn't matter."