Alex Torres: 2015 NL Champion Mets Relief Pitcher (2015)

Alexander Jesus Torres Matos was born on December 8th, 1987, in Venezuela. The five-foot ten left hander was signed by the Los Angles Angels as an international free agent in 2005. 

Four years later, he was the player to be named later in the Scott Kazmir trade, landing with the Tampa Rays.

MLB Career- Rays: Torres debuted with the Rays for one game in July. He was sent down & returned in September. On September 24th he earned his first career win, pitching five shutout relief innings in a 6-2 win over the Blue Jays at Skydome.

 He spent all of 2012 at AAA going 3-8 with a 6.72 ERA, making 18 starts in 30 appearances. 

In 2013, he returned to the Rays in in their 92-win Wild Card season. On May 18th, Torres earned a win started out the year at 4-0 with an ERA of 0.26 at the start of August. Overall, he would end up 4-2 with a 1.71 ERA finishing off 5 games in 39 appearances that season. 

2013 Post Season- ALDS: Torres appeared in three games of the ALDS loss to the Boston Red Sox. He struck out five batters pitching four scoreless innings.

The next year he was traded to the San Diego Padres along with Jesse Hahn for Logan Forsythe, Brad Boxberger, Matt Andriese & two minor leaguers. In 2014 with the Padres, he appeared in a career high 70 going 2-1 with a 3.33 ERA. He struck out 51 batters in 54 innings walking 33 while finishing off 12 games.

Mets Career: Towards the end of Spring Training 2015, he was traded to the New York Mets for Cory Mazzoni.

Protective Head Gear: Soon after the league allowed players to wear the new protective padded head gear, Torres became the first pitcher to wear it around his cap. He certainly looked strange with his thick cushioned hat while on the mound. The gear never became a popular item & was rarely seen again.

Mets Career: Torres made his Mets debut on April 9th, 2015, in the third Mets game of the year. He came on to pitch the 7th inning where the Mets were leading 6-0. He walked two batters that both scored when Michael Taylor doubled off Buddy Carlisle. The Mets still won the game 6-3.

On April 19th, he came on to pitch the top of the 9th inning, with the Mets leading the Miami Marlins 5-1. 

He would give up a HR, four singles & a wild pitch, but struck out Christian Yelich to end the game & earned the only save of his career.

In May he saw steady action & was credited with three holds as a late reliever. He allowed just one earned run in ten innings until May 30th when he gave up back-to-back HRs to the Marlins in a 9-5 loss.

Torres would see steady action through July. On August 4th, with no more minor league options left, he was designated for assignment. 

In 39 appearances he posted a 3.15 ERA getting credit for seven holds. He earned a save, struck out 35 batters & walked 26 in 34.1 innings. Left-handed batters were hitting .268 against him.

He eventually cleared waivers & was reassigned to the Mets AAA Las Vegas club where he pitched ten games that season.

Post Mets Career: He signed with the Atlanta Braves in December 2015 but was released at the end of Spring Training 2016. 

After the majors he went on to pitch in Japan & Mexico thru 2020.

Career Stats: In his four-year career he is 7-4 with a 2.68 ERA one save 17 strike outs & 86 walks in 154 innings pitched in 152 appearances.