Get To Know: Andres Torres

SI Staff | Oct 13, 2010

Get To Know: Andres Torres

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After his call-up to the majors in 2002, Torres saw limited playing time for Detroit. He totaled just 238 at-bats in his first three years in a Tigers' uniform.

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Diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Torres previously struggled to remember signs from third bases coaches during games. The outfielder had a hard time staying on one roster, bouncing around between the White Sox, Rangers, Twins, Tigers and Cubs before signing with the Giants in 2009.

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Torres dashed for 26 stolen bases in 2010, an MLB career high. Known for his speed, Torres once amassed an impressive 65 stolen bases in a single season in the minors.

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The 32-year-old Torres was a revelation for San Francisco in 2010, playing in 139 games while assuming the role as the team's everyday center fielder. His .268 average and 84 runs scored from the top of the lineup keyed the Giants run to the NL West Division title, their first since 2003.

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A switch-hitter, Torres was significantly more dangerous from the left-hand side in 2010. He smacked 14 of his 16 homers from the left side of the plate, and hit 60 points higher than he did as a righty, when he only batted .224.

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The Giants couldn't have hoped for a better defensive outfielder than Torres, who committed just one error over the course of the entire 2010 season. He also impressed with his arm, racking up seven outfield assists for San Francisco.

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Always open to tips or suggestions, Torres received advice from Willie McCovey during spring training, as the Giants' legend instructed him to hold his bat more upright. That's clearly been working for Torres, as he set career highs in at-bats, hits, home runs and RBIs in 2010. At the end of the season, Torres was named the winner of the Willie McCovey award, given to the Giants' most inspirational player.

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Torres didn't begin playing baseball seriously until his tenure at Miami-Dade Community College, where he began to attract attention from several MLB scouts. Prior to that, Torres was a standout sprinter at his Puerto Rico-based high school where he ran the 100-meter dash.