Top Yankees’ Prospect Tears UCL with Headfirst Slide

Normally when you hear a player is headed for Tommy John surgery you assume he's a pitcher.

But, New York Yankees infield prospect Glyber Torres, ranked among the top prospects in all of MLB, tore his Ulner Collateral Ligament while sliding headfirst into home plate on Saturday while playing for Triple-A affiliate Scranton/Wilkes Barre.

Bryan Hoch of MLB.com:

Torres was attempting to score from second base on a hit to right field and slid awkwardly into the plate, sustaining what the Yankees initially called a hyperextended left elbow. Torres was seen by Yankees team physician Christopher Ahmad in New York, where the torn UCL was revealed.

He'll miss the rest of the year. In terms of the future, there is generally much less concern for a position player's ability to return to form than there is for a pitcher; even less in this case as it was Torres' non-throwing arm. The 20-year-old should be ready to return in time for the 2018 season, the team said.

Torres hit a combined .287 with 7-HR and 34-RBI in 55 games with the SWB Railriders and the Trenton Thunder (AA).