MIAMI — After an offseason through which the Mets spent over a billion {dollars}, their finest participant by means of every week is likely to be their $1.5 million ostensible backup catcher.
Luis Torrens, who has been thrust into the on a regular basis job due to Francisco Alvarez’s hand surgical procedure, has been a stunning two-way power who slugged a house run Tuesday and made the play of the Mets’ six-game season in Wednesday’s 6-5, 11-inning win over the Marlins at loanDepot Park.
In a recreation the Mets had simply tied with a dramatic Pete Alonso dwelling run, the Marlins had been threatening to un-tie it towards Edwin Díaz within the eighth inning.
An infield single from Xavier Edwards introduced a problem.
A steal and a wild pitch that introduced Edwards to 3rd introduced an issue. Díaz struck out Kyle Stowers earlier than Griffin Conine grounded on to a shifted-in Brett Baty, the second baseman cleanly selecting the ball and throwing dwelling to chop down Edwards.
Baty’s throw was off line, on the primary base aspect of the plate, and Torrens backhanded the catch, then flung his arm again throughout his physique blindly hoping to collide with Edwards’ hand.
It labored — finally, no less than. Edwards was referred to as secure initially, and a Mets problem overturned a name that also appears too near name.
The very fact it was even shut was a testomony to a formidable quantity of athleticism from a catcher the Mets picked up from the Yankees final season in change for money.
“Unbelievable play there,” supervisor Carlos Mendoza mentioned. “One of many greatest performs of the sport.”
Torrens was not completed. As Díaz — who struggles to carry base runners — fell behind Jonah Bride, Torrens caught the second straight ball and watched Conine take off for second base.
Torrens didn’t go away his stance, throwing a dart from his knees that introduced his personal physique to the grime.
Baty caught the throw and slapped on a tag to flee an inning through which hazard at all times appeared imminent.
“Throwing from his knees,” Mendoza mentioned, “fairly spectacular.”
Torrens has been fairly spectacular in six video games through which he’s batting .313, receiving sturdy marks from his pitchers and poor marks from opposing base stealers, who’re 1-for-4 towards him.
The Mets appeared to break down when Alvarez required thumb surgical procedure final April and weren’t the identical workforce till their gifted younger catcher returned in June.
This time, the Mets appear higher positioned to face up to an Alvarez damage as a result of they’ve a backup who at least is a standout defender and on the most can do a few of the whole lot.
“I feel it begins off with confidence and understanding that you simply’re going to be within the lineup day in and day trip,” Torrens mentioned Tuesday, by means of interpreter Alan Suriel, of his sturdy begin. “After which after that, it’s all of the exhausting work you need to put in to have the ability to have that sort of success.”
