The Cincinnati Reds had a relatively quiet offseason until recently, when they claimed pitcher off waivers from the Texas Rangers. While the team has yet to sign anyone to a major league contract and has made minimal moves in free agency, they did bolster their depth by signing right-handed reliever Lenny Torres to a minor league deal.
Torres, originally drafted 41st overall by Cleveland in the 2018 MLB Draft out of Beacon High School, began his career with promise. However, injuries and setbacks derailed his early progress. After pitching just 15.1 innings as a 17-year-old rookie, he missed the 2019 season due to Tommy John surgery and the 2020 season due to the minor league shutdown.
In 2021, Torres returned to action as a starter at the Low-A level (now Single-A), but control issues led to a 6.29 ERA. Cleveland transitioned him to a bullpen role in 2022, where his struggles with command persisted for two seasons.
The 2024 season marked a turning point for Torres. Promoted to Double-A, he pitched out of the Akron bullpen and made significant strides in his control, walking just 24 batters over 51.2 innings—a substantial improvement compared to prior seasons. This progress contributed to a career-best 2.26 ERA in the Eastern League, along with an impressive 63 strikeouts. His fastball, which averages in the mid-90s and touches 99 mph, along with a sharp breaking ball in the mid-80s, gives him two pitches capable of succeeding at the major league level.
Though Torres has not received an invitation to big league spring training, his improved command and quality stuff could position him for a future opportunity in the majors, provided he continues to refine his control.
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