Luis Torrens just wrapped up 2026 with his second straight Gold Glove nomination, and if you watched him play, you know it was absolutely deserved. The Mets clearly agreed, locking him down in May with a two-year, $11.5 million contract to keep him through 2028. This guy, originally the backup catcher, became an absolute bedrock for their pitching staff and then stunned everyone by finding his power stroke later in the season.
Behind the Plate, He’s a Brick Wall
Initially, Torrens was the backup, but after Francisco Alvarez tore his meniscus in May, Torrens stepped up huge, taking over as the starting catcher for 74 games out of the 86 he played. He wasn’t just filling in, though; he solidified himself as a steady hand for pitchers, rookies and veterans alike, and the numbers back it up. His defensive metrics were elite, plain and simple: a DRS of 12 (that’s 17.8/1000 innings!) and an FRV of 10 (14.8/1000 innings). Plus, he caught 17 runners stealing, flashing a ridiculous 1.86-second pop time. Is it any wonder he was considered one of the best, if not *the* best, defensive catchers in the league? Pitchers loved him too, complimenting his pitch calling and game management, which translated to a 3.74 catcher ERA, significantly lower than Alvarez’s 4.54. This guy is a defensive wizard, no doubt.
Suddenly, He Can Rake Too?
Now, typically when you talk about Torrens, it’s all about his glove, but in August, his bat absolutely caught fire. Over 14 games, he smashed six of his nine total home runs for the season. That’s a massive surge for a guy known for his defense! His OPS, which was sitting at .602 at the start of August, shot up to .701 by early September. For the entire season, he finished with a .235/.295/.396 slash line. And because apparently, he does it all, he even pitched 2.1 innings, giving up two runs for a 7.71 ERA, and somehow played 3.0 innings at first base. All these contributions, on both sides of the ball, added up to an fWAR of 2.1.
Torrens’ overall performance made that two-year, $11.5 million deal a no-brainer for the Mets back in May. Presumed to stay as the backup, he proved he’s worth so much more. When baseball returns, it’s going to be awesome to watch him continue to anchor the defense and maybe even surprise us with the bat again.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Amazin’ Avenue.
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