Jose
Torres

2021 MLB Draft: After hitting .333/.369/.533 with three homers in 60 at-bats as a true freshman in 2020, the expectations were exceptionally high for this second-year freshman, who is draft-eligible by age in 2021. With a wiry, athletic frame at 6 feet, 170 pounds, Torres’ smooth-actioned defense sets him apart from most others in the college game. He’s light on his feet and shows elite hands on the dirt. With good body control he moves well for above-average-to-plus range and has plenty of arm strength with the carry to complete all the necessary plays. Overall, he is the rare college player who projects to remain at shortstop. In the box, the right-handed hitter sets up with a slightly open stance and a pull approach. With length to his swing, there is sneaky power to his pull-side when he gets the right pitch. However, with below average bat speed and an around-the-ball swing path, he has a hole inside that can be exploited. An oblique injury likely contributed to a slow start, and he finished at .289/.343/.533, though he'll need to show more patience at the plate, having only drawn 13 walks in 217 plate appearances.

After hitting .333/.369/.533 with three homers in 60 at-bats as a true freshman in 2020, the expectations were exceptionally high for this second-year freshman who is draft-eligible by age in 2021. With a wiry, athletic frame at 6-foot, 170 pounds, Torres’ smooth-actioned defense sets him apart from most others in the college game. He’s light on his feet and shows elite hands on the dirt. With good body control he moves well for above average-to-plus range and has plenty of arm strength with the carry to complete all the necessary plays. Overall, he is the rare college player who projects to remain at shortstop in MLB. In the batter’s box the right-handed hitter sets up with a slightly open stance and a pull approach. With length to his swing there is sneaky power to his pull-side when he gets the right pitch. However, with below average bat speed and an around the ball swing path, he has a hole inside that can be exploited. Currently slashing .269/.320/.441 this season, Torres will need to show more patience at the plate where he has walked only six times in 101 plate appearances (5.9%) this season. Coming into 2021, Torres was regarded as a potential top two round talent. Although he hasn’t yet reached those lofty expectations, he has plenty of upside that bodes well for the future.

Wiry, athletic frame at 6-foot, 171 pounds. Light on his feet, moves well at shortstop. Easy, athletic hands. Sound swing at the plate, average bat speed. Missed time early with an oblique injury so may still be feeling some effects. (Nathan Rode)

The crown jewel of NC State’s latest Top 25 recruiting class last fall, Torres entered the spring with high expectations, ranking No. 2 on our preseason list of ACC Impact Freshmen. He lived up to the billing in the shortened campaign, hitting .333/.369/.533 with three homers in 60 at-bats while playing slick defense at shortstop. Defense really sets Torres apart from most college shortstops. He has silky-smooth actions, quick feet, plus range, good body control and a strong arm with easy carry, making him the rare college player who easily projects as a major league shortstop. Last fall the Wolfpack said he just needed to cut down his mistakes and become more consistent, so he did just that, committing just two errors in 17 games this spring. A live-bodied, wiry athlete at 6-foot, 168 pounds, Torres has sneaky pop in his whippy righthanded stroke and has shown the ability to drive the ball with authority to the pull side and the opposite field. He also has demonstrated promising pitch recognition, though he needs to become more patient after posting 20 strikeouts against just three walks as a freshman. He’ll be draft-eligible by age as a sophomore in 2021, and he could rocket into the top half of the first round if he continues to progress.

SS Jose Torres shows plenty of signs of filling out physically while on campus, and when he does, he is going to have a chance to be an impact player. Currently wiry-strong with natural athleticism, Torres moves well at shortstop where he should have a strong chance of sticking in Raleigh. Featuring some twitch in the hands, Torres whips the barrel through the zone at the plate to produce some gap to gap power that may end up translating well at the top of the Wolfpack order.

Updated video. Went 2-for-2 against Bel Air with a double, 2 walks, 2 RBI's, 2 SB's, and scored twice. 

Torres struggled at the plate in this one, getting himself out on some bad pitches. Showed some rhythm and looseness at the plate with a controlled leg kick. Showed speed down the line to first base and smooth actions at shortstop. Eager to get back out and watch him again.

On the Hunt 12/4/2018

East Coast Pro

Arm strength is present defensively with a quick release. Displays quick hands around the diamond with solid actions overall. Was a 4.25 H-1B. Consistent, hard contact at the plate. Put together one of the better performances at the event.