The Mets have one of the best arms in the league, except the throwing isn’t coming from a pitcher.
Enter Luis Torrens, the 28-year-old catcher with a cannon of a right arm.
Making it all the better, the Mets obtained him for mere cash considerations from the Yankees.
“You know you’re going to get a quality at-bat, but he’s also he’s going to take care of the pitching staff,” manager Carlos Mendoza said of Torrens. “He’s going to lead them; he’s going to call the game, and then his ability to shut down a running game because his arm — the quick transfer — so, yeah, he’s a tremendous help.”
On Saturday afternoon in the Mets’ 7-3 win over the Rockies at Citi Field, Torrens showcased why he could be considered among the best backup catchers in baseball.
In the top of the second inning, Torrens threw out Brenton Doyle as he tried to steal second.
Torrens has thrown out eight of the past 12 runners attempting a swipe.
“It’s really nice having a catcher that knows what you’re going to do, and he’s confident in my game plan while I’m confident in his,” said Mets starter Christian Scott, who gave up seven hits, three runs and struck out five in 4 ¹/₃ innings of work.
“It’s almost like the pitch I’m thinking of, he’s calling it already,” Scott said. “It’s nice to be able to have that chemistry and being on the same page.
“He’s done an unbelievable job back there.”
Torrens — who went 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored Saturday — joined the Mets on May 31, and has paid immediate dividends in replacing Omar Narvaez.
Narvaez went through a brutal 0-for-28 span of trying to throw out base stealers, which helps explain why he’s a former Met.
Torrens has shattered any expectations the Mets may have had when adding him to the squad, including amassing eight extra-base hits in the 19 games he has played.
In comparison, Narvaez had nine extra-base hits in 77 games over two seasons.