Joe Torres (baseball)

For the baseball executive with a similar name, see Joe Torre.

Joseph Torres (born September 3, 1982) is an American former professional baseball pitcher and current assistant pitching coach for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Joe Torres
Cleveland Guardians – No. 86
Pitcher / Coach
Born: (1982-09-03) September 3, 1982 (age 41) The Bronx, New York
Teams
As coach Cleveland Guardians (2022–present)

Career

Torres attended Gateway High School in Kissimmee, Florida. As a pitcher for the school's baseball team, he had a 1.58 earned run average (ERA) and 370 strikeouts in 198+2⁄3 innings pitched. As a senior, he had a 0.38 ERA with 128 strikeouts in 55 innings. Torres accepted a scholarship to play college baseball for the University of Miami.^[1]

The Anaheim Angels selected Torres in the first round, with the 10th overall selection, of the 2000 Major League Baseball draft.^[2] Torres signed with the Angels, receiving a $2.08 million signing bonus.^[3] He pitched for the Boise Hawks in 2000 after he signed.^[4] In 2002, he had a 3.52 ERA with the Cedar Rapids Kernels. He pitched 50 innings in 2003 around injuries and missed the 2004 season due to having Tommy John surgery. He struggled with Cedar Rapids and the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in 2005.^[5][6] A free agent, Torres signed with the Chicago White Sox organization before the 2007 season. He played for the Birmingham Barons in 2008 and signed with the Texas Rangers organization for the 2009 season.^[7] In 2012, while pitching for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox for the Colorado Rockies organization, Torres was suspended for 50 games when he tested positive for an amphetamine.^[8]

In 2017, Torres was the pitching coach for the Arizona League Indians. He coached for the Lake County Captains in 2018 and the Lynchburg Hillcats in 2019. After the 2019 season, Cleveland named Torres their minor league pitching coordinator. He was named the assistant pitching coach on the major league staff before the 2022 season.^[9]

References

1. Carroll, Frank (June 5, 2000). "Gateway Grad is on his Way". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved January 19, 2022 – via Google Cache.
2. Bolch, Ben (June 11, 2000). "Precocious Power". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 19, 2022 – via Google Cache.
3. Foster, Chris (August 27, 2000). "No. 1 Pick Torres Shows Early Promise". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 19, 2022 – via Google Cache.
4. Bolch, Ben (June 1, 2002). "Prospects for Torres Heat Up". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 19, 2022 – via Google Cache.
5. Whicker, Mark (June 5, 2006). "Angels' pick Torres proves draft always gamble". Orange County Register. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
6. "Dark side: Some of the worst Angels drafts". Orange County Register. June 9, 2009. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
7. Bloom, Earl (December 11, 2008). "Rangers sign former Angels first-round pick". Orange County Register. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
8. "Former first-rounder Torres banned 50 games". February 21, 2012.
9. Hoynes, Paul (January 19, 2021). "Cleveland Guardians promote Joe Torres as assistant pitching coach". The Plain-Dealer. Retrieved January 19, 2022.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference (Minors)