Top big league prospects are 2-for-2 in getting their potentially valuable first home run baseballs back from fans. Late last month, number one prospect Ronald Acuna’s first big league homer was caught by an Atlanta card shop employee who traveled to Cincinnati to watch him play. Friday night, the game’s fifth best youngster, 21-year-old Gleyber Torres of the Yankees hit a three-run shot off Cleveland’s Josh Tomlin. The ball wound up in the hands of a woman named Teena, who was sitting in the left field stands.
Gleyber Torres will have his first home run ball as a souvenir. Eddie Fastook of the Yankees’ security team negotiated w/ the fan who caught the ball and secured it for Torres. The fan and her 8 friends will get a clubhouse tour and some other autographed items.
— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) May 5, 2018
Indeed, Teena and her friends were escorted onto the field after the game and out came Torres to make a trade.
Gleyber Torres HR ball exchange
Gleyber gets:
– 1st pro HR ballFan who caught the ball gets:
– autographed bat
– personalized autographed ballOther fans get
– signed ball#GleyberGood pic.twitter.com/amsMt2qGHm— Matthew Stucko (@MatthewStucko) May 5, 2018
Torres’ first home run ball would have fetched several thousand dollars at auction–and a lot more later on if he becomes a star. He says the ball will be given to his parents.
Torres is the youngest Yankee to homer since John Ellis in 1969 but that was an inside-the-park job. Bobby Murcer was just 19 when he hit one over the fence in 1965.
On Sunday, Torres was at it again, becoming the youngest Yankees player since Mickey Mantle to hit a game-ending homer as they beat the Tribe, 7-4.