Torres honored with 'Heroes Award' at Wall Street gala

NEW YORK -- Free-agent second baseman Gleyber Torres is usually clean-shaven when he is on the baseball field. But on Tuesday night, he was sporting a beard at the 15th annual Cristian Rivera Foundation Celebrity Gala at Cipriani Wall Street, where he was given the “Heroes Award” for helping others off the field during his seven years with the Yankees.

"I shave every season, but my face gets a little irritation. Right now, it's just for rest," Torres said about the beard.

The work Torres has done off the field has been incredible. He has been a global ambassador for Special Olympics and mentors children and individuals of all abilities. Torres is best remembered for having an impact on a boy named Zack Schwartz, who was battling cancer in 2019. It was Spring Training and Torres’ second year with the Bronx Bombers, and Schwartz asked Torres to hit a home run for him. Torres came through by knocking one out of the park in his first at-bat.

Asked on Tuesday if he felt like a hero, Torres laughed and said, “No. I do my little thing off the field, play baseball. You can do special things off the field. You know every opportunity I have, I just try to do my best. I’m really glad to help people, and do everything to help kids. I’m always available.”

Torres is available to play baseball in 2025. His career in New York had its share of ups and downs. In seven seasons with the Yankees, Torres has a slash line of .265/.334/.441 with 138 home runs and 441 RBIs. He is a two-time All-Star, but there were times he was sent to the bench for not going all out on a base hit. This past season, Torres was at his best at the leadoff spot, hitting .283 with a .350 on-base percentage.

Asked about his chances of returning to the Yankees on a scale from 1-10, Torres said, “I don’t have a number. I think my agent is doing a really good job right now. I’m literally waiting for the call every day. … Everything is going to a different player in a different market. I’m just waiting right now."

A lot of people noticed Torres stopped following the Yankees on Instagram. He said he wanted to clear his account on social media, which he doesn’t use often, and focus on his family. Asked if he wanted to stay with the Yankees, Torres said, “I ... played here [since] 2018. I had a really good run. They are family. I know everybody in the organization, but it’s a business. I can control only what I can control. Let’s see [where] it’s going to be in the next few months.

“I think I’m in a good spot. I’m enjoying my vacation. I was at the beach a couple of days ago and now I’m here to help with a really good event. I’m looking forward to the future."