Luis Torrens Bio
Luis Alfonso Torrens Sáez (born May 2, 1996) is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, and Chicago Cubs. A switch-handed hitter and right-handed thrower, Torrens wears jersey No. 13 for the Mets and has built his career on defensive versatility behind the plate.
Across his major league journey, Torrens has suited up for five organizations and has contributed as both a starting and reserve catcher. Through games played in 2026, he has posted a .226 career batting average with 28 home runs and 138 runs batted in. His career has included stints in the Venezuelan Winter League and several stops in the minor leagues as he has worked to cement a long-term role in the majors.
Early Life and Background
Luis Alfonso Torrens Sáez was born on May 2, 1996, and grew up in Venezuela, a country with a deep tradition of producing Major League catchers. From a young age, he developed his skills within a baseball culture that has produced stars such as Víctor Martínez, Salvador Pérez, and Wilson Ramos. Venezuela’s year-round playing environment gave Torrens early exposure to competitive baseball and helped him sharpen the defensive fundamentals that would later define his professional profile.
As a teenager, Torrens drew attention from international scouts thanks to his strong arm, quick release, and mature approach behind the plate. His combination of receiving skills and physical tools made him one of the more closely followed young catchers in his signing class. Those early evaluations set the stage for his first professional contract and his entry into the New York Yankees organization.
Path to Baseball
Torrens signed with the New York Yankees as an international free agent on July 2, 2012, beginning his professional career at age 16. He made his professional debut in 2013 with the Gulf Coast League Yankees, working his way through the organization’s entry-level system. In 2014, he split the season among the Charleston RiverDogs, Gulf Coast Yankees, and Staten Island Yankees, continuing to refine his game against older competition.
In March 2015, Torrens had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, an injury that ended his 2015 season. He returned healthy in 2016 and played 52 games between Staten Island and Charleston, showing that he had fully recovered. That same year, in the Rule 5 draft, the Cincinnati Reds selected Torrens from the Yankees and immediately traded him to the San Diego Padres, jump-starting his major league path.
Luis Torrens Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
Torrens joined the Padres’ Opening Day roster in 2017 as a 20-year-old who had never played above single-A, a rare leap for a young catcher. He split duties with Héctor Sánchez as a back-up to Austin Hedges and started 31 games during the season. As the year progressed, his playing time decreased, and he finished 2017 with 20 hits in 123 at-bats, including three doubles and a triple.
During the 2017–18 offseason, Torrens played for the Navegantes del Magallanes in the Venezuelan Winter League to gain additional experience. In spring training 2018, he battled an oblique injury and was optioned to the San Antonio Missions of the Double-A Texas League on March 14. The assignment gave him a chance to log regular at-bats and continue his development as a hitter.
San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners Era (2019–2022)
In 2019, Torrens played for the Amarillo Sod Poodles of the Texas League and was promoted to the majors on September 16. On August 30, 2020, the Padres traded him, along with Taylor Trammell, Ty France, and Andrés Muñoz, to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Austin Nola, Austin Adams, and Dan Altavilla. Between his two clubs that season, he led all major league catchers in passed balls on defense, a reminder of the steep learning curve he faced in 2020’s shortened schedule.
In 2021, Torrens posted his most productive major league season, batting .243/.299/.431 with 15 home runs and 47 RBIs in 108 games. The Mariners designated him for assignment on August 11, 2022, and after clearing waivers, he was outrighted to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. He batted .279 in 16 games for Tacoma before being promoted back to the majors on September 21. On October 4, he recorded the sixth pitching win by a position player since 1960, throwing the top of the 10th inning against the Detroit Tigers and giving up one hit and no earned runs. On November 18, he was non-tendered and became a free agent.
Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles (2023)
On January 25, 2023, Torrens signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs organization and made the major league roster out of spring training. He appeared in 13 games for the Cubs, going 5-for-20 with 3 RBIs, before being designated for assignment on April 28. On May 3, the Cubs traded him to the Baltimore Orioles for cash considerations, and he was designated for assignment on May 9 without appearing for Baltimore. He cleared waivers and was assigned outright to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, but he rejected the outright assignment and elected free agency on May 14.
Washington Nationals and Seattle Mariners Return (2023)
On May 18, 2023, Torrens signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals organization. He played 19 games for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings, hitting .258/.311/.470 with three home runs and 13 RBIs, before opting out of his contract on July 1 to become a free agent. On August 30, he signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners, and after five games with the Tacoma Rainiers, the Mariners selected his contract on September 12. In five games for Seattle, he went 2-for-8 with one RBI before being removed from the 40-man roster and sent to Triple-A Tacoma. He rejected the outright assignment and elected free agency on November 3.
New York Mets Era (2024–Present)
On January 24, 2024, Torrens signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees. In 30 games for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, he hit .279/.339/.469 with five home runs and 19 RBIs. On May 31, 2024, the Yankees traded him to the New York Mets for cash considerations, and he was added to the major league roster. On June 5, he hit two home runs in a 9–1 victory against the Washington Nationals, recording the first multi-homer game of his career. On June 9, he turned the first ever game-ending 2–3 double play in MLB history to preserve a 6–5 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in the MLB London Series. In 48 games for the Mets in 2024, he batted .229/.292/.373 with three home runs and 15 RBI.
Francisco Álvarez began the 2025 season on the injured list, and Torrens filled in as his replacement alongside Hayden Senger. He was named a Gold Glove finalist following the season and made 92 appearances for the Mets during the regular year, slashing .226/.284/.345 with five home runs, 29 RBI, and one stolen base. On May 2, 2026, Torrens and the Mets agreed to a two-year, $11.5 million contract extension, securing his role in New York.
Driving Style and Strengths
Torrens is valued for his defensive reliability, his strong throwing arm, and his willingness to do whatever the team needs, including pitching in a blowout. His ability to work with diverse pitching staffs has made him a trusted second option behind Álvarez, and his pitch-framing and game-calling have been central to his Gold Glove finalist recognition.
Notable Events and Milestones
Torrens’s career includes several memorable moments, including his first multi-homer game on June 5, 2024, against the Nationals, and his historic 2–3 double play in the MLB London Series on June 9, 2024. He also earned a rare pitching win as a position player on October 4, 2022, against the Detroit Tigers, becoming the sixth position player to earn a win on the mound since 1960.
Luis Torrens Career Wins
Torrens has not recorded an official pitching win in the traditional sense, but his October 4, 2022, appearance against the Tigers is recognized as a milestone win by a position player. His career has otherwise been defined by defensive contributions, timely hitting, and a willingness to serve in whatever role the team requires.
Other Wins & Performances
In the Venezuelan Winter League, Torrens has played for the Navegantes del Magallanes, gaining valuable offseason experience against veteran competition. His minor league résumé includes stints with Charleston, Staten Island, San Antonio, Amarillo, Tacoma, Norfolk, Rochester, and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he consistently produced as a middle-of-the-order bat at each stop.
Luis Torrens Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Torrens was raised in Venezuela, where baseball is a national passion and family support is often a key ingredient in a young player’s development. While specific details about his parents and siblings are not publicly documented, his rapid rise through international baseball underscores a strong family foundation that helped him pursue a professional career from a young age.
Personal Life
Luis Alfonso Torrens Sáez has kept his personal life largely private, with no public information about a spouse or children. Off the field, he has spent his winters playing in the Venezuelan Winter League, a tradition that connects him to his home country’s baseball roots and provides year-round opportunities to refine his catching skills.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a turning point for Torrens, who stepped into the Mets’ starting catching role when Francisco Álvarez opened the year on the injured list. Paired with Hayden Senger behind the plate, Torrens stabilized the position and provided steady defense, while his bat offered timely contributions in the middle of the Mets’ lineup. He played in 92 regular-season games, slashing .226/.284/.345 with five home runs, 29 RBI, and one stolen base.
Torrens’s defensive performance drew league-wide recognition, as he was named a Gold Glove finalist following the season. The honor reflected his improved pitch-framing, his strong throwing arm, and his ability to manage a young and talented Mets pitching staff. His role in guiding the staff through Álvarez’s absence helped New York remain competitive during a key stretch of the schedule.
Heading into the rest of his tenure, Torrens carries momentum from his 2025 showing and the security of a two-year, $11.5 million contract extension agreed to on May 2, 2026. With Álvarez expected back at full strength, the Mets are positioned to benefit from a dependable two-catcher rotation, and Torrens’s blend of experience, defense, and clubhouse presence makes him a central figure in the team’s long-term plans.
