Gleyber Torres reflects from the quiet of the Yankees’ home dugout in the Bronx, midway through his final contracted season with the team. He reminisces about his early days in the organization, especially the arrival and guidance provided by Carlos Mendoza, now the Mets’ rookie manager preparing for his first Subway Series.
“When the Yankees acquired me from the Cubs [in the Aroldis Chapman trade in 2016], Carlos welcomed me on the minor league side. I was really nervous,” Torres recalls of Mendoza, who has played a pivotal role as a coach and mentor throughout his Yankees career, marked by highs and challenges alike.
Known for his casual playing style, which sometimes masks his strong “care factor,” Torres acknowledges his past mistakes in attention and hustle. Over the years, Mendoza and Yankees manager Aaron Boone, often led by Mendoza, have pushed Torres hard during intense meetings.
Yet Torres deeply appreciates Mendoza’s tough love approach. “He was always the guy, when I did bad things, he went hard with me,” Torres explains. “It was good. Maybe in the moment, someone can tell you something that you don’t like to hear. But that’s the best thing for a culture.”
Torres credits Mendoza not just with his development as a player, but also with helping him mature quickly. As the infield coordinator and later in the majors, Mendoza’s guidance extended beyond the field—emphasizing professionalism and resilience in the face of setbacks.
Reflecting on Mendoza’s managerial role with the Mets, Torres expresses confidence in his former coach’s ability to lead. “He doesn’t care who I am,” Torres reflects, noting Mendoza’s straightforward approach to coaching. “If he had the right answer for me, he would always come straight to me. And I love it.”
As Torres prepares to return to the field for extra work, he looks forward to meeting Mendoza at Citi Field, proud of his former coach’s journey to become a Major League manager.