Chris Torres

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Miami Marlins #28 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Torres signed with the Mariners in 2014 for $375,000 and then had strong debuts in both the Dominican Summer and Arizona legaues. He was traded to the Marlins in the deal that sent Dee Gordon to Seattle, but he dealt with a recurring ankle injury that limited him to just 39 games in 2018.
  
  Scouting Report: A switch-hitter, Torres displays more impact from the left side of the plate. He hit .302/.445/.395 in 111 plate appearances against righthanders in 2018, compared to just .129/.206/.226 in 34 trips against lefties. Torres, who considered ditching his righthanded swing in the past, shows a simpler, more pure swing from the left side, and he has the chance to be an above-average switch-hitter if he could get his righthanded swing to match. Torres is a plus runner but will likely never have more than fringe-average power, although he has quick hands that generates solid bat speed. Defensively, Torres has a plus arm and enough range to play shortstop, but the Marlins are working on getting him familiar with second base in order to expand his defensive versatility and get more playing time, when healthy.
  
  The Future: With Jose Devers slated to be the everyday shortstop at high Class A Jupiter, and Osiris Johnson handling that same role at low Class A Clinton, Torres will take on more of a utility role in 2019. Shoulder and ankle injuries have limited Torres during the past two seasons, so he'll have to prove he can stay healthy and produce before he gets buried on the Marlins' depth chart.
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  Ranked Miami Marlins #9 prospect in 2018
  Signed by the Mariners in 2014 for $375,000, Torres started his pro career with promising seasons in the Dominican Summer League in 2015 and the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2016. An injury to Torres' non-throwing shoulder hampered him early in 2017, but he took off in the second half of the short-season Northwest League season with a .798 OPS. The Marlins acquired him after the 2017 season--along with Nick Neidert and Robert Dugger--for Dee Gordon. Torres has a strong, physical frame and impressive athleticism. He has a solid approach at the plate and posted an 11 percent walk rate at short-season Everett. While his numbers so far don't support it, he projects to be an average hitter because of his pure swing and how he well uses his hands. He considered giving up switch-hitting and batting lefthanded only, but just needs to trust his righthanded swing. Torre is a plus runner and projects to have fringe-average power as he grows, but his glove should carry him regardless. He has the potential to be a plus shortstop with a plus-plus arm, though he loses concentration at times and needs to learn better angles on his throws. Torres is a long way from the majors, but could be an everyday shortstop with 15 home runs if everything comes together. Low Class A Greensboro likely awaits in 2018.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #21 prospect in 2017
  Torres signed with the Mariners for $375,000 as a 17-year-old. After spending 2015 in the Dominican Summer League, he made his U.S. debut in 2016 and lived up to his reputation as a defense-first shortstop with impressive range and intriguing defensive tools. He is a smart defender who positions himself well and has tremendous instincts, which is amplified by his athleticism to go get anything hit in his zone. He has a plus arm as well that makes him a true shortstop. Offensively he is further behind, with a singles-oriented stroke from the right side and a poor one from the left that led to a .178 average and .467 OPS in 2016. As a below-average hitter with little power potential and above-average speed, Torres fits the mold of a potential utility infielder but has youth and time on his side to grow into more offense. He will begin 2017 in extended spring training before heading to short-season Everett.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #18 prospect in 2016
  Torres' path to the Mariners in the 2014 international class was a complicated one. According to his trainer, Torres had a $2.1 million deal in place one year before he was eligible to sign as a 17-year-old in July 2014, but the Yankees backed out of the agreement at the last minute. Instead, Torres signed with Seattle for $330,000 in August of that year and made his professional debut in 2015 in the Dominican Summer League. Torres lived up to his reputation as an advanced defender for his age with plenty of range to both sides and a strong arm. He brings a disciplined approach to the plate and is adept at working the count and drawing walks. He struggles to impact the ball from either side of the plate and projects as a line-drive hitter with gap power. He's a plus runner with instincts on the basepaths. He'll be just 18 when next season opens and will likely spend one more year in the DSL before making his domestic debut.