SAN FRANCISCO ¨C Ronald Torreyes¡¯ name comes up and Joe Girardi gushes.

He makes no apologies. He loves the guy.

¡°People say, well, why do you love Torreyes?¡± Girardi said this weekend at Oracle Park. ¡°He¡¯s a ballplayer. I mean, that¡¯s what he is. If you go back, when he was a little boy, his dad was playing winter ball and he was going with him all the time. He really understands the game. And I trust him, wherever I put him. I don¡¯t ever worry about him being prepared, wherever I put him. I could put him at third, short, second, first, left, center, right, and I know he¡¯s prepared. That¡¯s a luxury for a manager. I don¡¯t know where we¡¯d be without him.¡±

Torreyes has started 21 of the Phillies¡¯ 69 games this season at shortstop, including Sunday¡¯s series finale against the Giants. He is batting .278 with two home runs, 13 RBIs and a .735 OPS in 83 plate appearances, making him more than a capable fill-in while Didi Gregorius recovers from pseudogout and an injured right elbow.

But Girardi¡¯s undying faith in Torreyes really shows defensively.

Torreyes always seems to make the plays that need to be made. He always seems to make the right decision.

Torreyes credits his father, Alcides Torreyes, for that. The Torreyes¡¯ are from Venezuela. Alcides worked construction but he also played and coached baseball, including winter ball. Ronald soaked up his father¡¯s teachings and doings like a sponge.

¡°He was always a mentor to me,¡± Torreyes said Sunday morning through the team¡¯s interpreter. ¡°He was always great to me. He always motivated me to be better, to do things the right way. As you guys know, I¡¯m not tall. So, my dad obviously realized that at a young age. He never allowed that to be an obstacle for me. He said, you¡¯ve got to show them it doesn¡¯t matter how tall you are or how short you are, you¡¯re ready to play, you¡¯re ready to perform at the highest level.¡±

Torreyes said he is about 5-foot-6, although most places list him as 5-foot-8.

¡°He¡¯d take me to my national games or hometown games,¡± Torreyes said. ¡°He¡¯d manage or coach me. He¡¯d drive me to the games. He¡¯d hit me ground balls. I really owe him a lot.¡±

Alcides has never watched his son play live in the United States. He does not have a visa and he is not a fan of flying. But he texts or calls his son after almost every game. And not just when he does well.

¡°He got me ready for this moment,¡± Torreyes said. ¡°He got me ready to have this opportunity. Because he wasn¡¯t able to have it due to some family circumstances. But he wanted me to achieve the dream that he had for himself.¡±