New York Yankees fans haven’t had much to cheer about lately. Back-to-back losses have cast a shadow on the Bronx Bombers’ early-season success, and fiery sports radio personality Mike Francesca has a clear culprit in mind: Gleyber Torres.

“The biggest culprit, obviously, (Gleyber) Torres,” boomed Francesca on his popular YouTube show, the Mike Francesa Podcast. “You know Torres has been… forget the 38 home run year—he’s a 25 home run hitter; he’s a legitimate power hitter.” It seems like a lifetime ago that Torres launched 38 bombs in a season, a distant memory compared to his current struggles.

But Francesca wasn’t done painting a grim picture. “He’s 19 for 94 with 29 strikeouts, 2 RBIs, and no homers,” he rattled off the stats. “That’s a really rotten 100 at bats; that’s a microscopic slugging percentage of .223.” Yikes! Those numbers are enough to make any Yankees fan squirm in their seats.

Let’s face it, folks—two RBIs in 94 at-bats is simply unacceptable, especially for a player with Gleyber Torres’ offensive pedigree. We all know strikeouts happen, but striking out one-third of the time you step up to the plate is a major red flag. Here’s the thing, though: Francesca readily admits he hasn’t given up on Torres just yet.

This is also a source of frustration for Francesca, who readily admits he expected better. “I know he hasn’t had a lot of chances,” he concedes, “but I’ve been waiting for him to do something.” While acknowledging the limited number of at-bats Torres has had, Francesca remains unconvinced. “So far,” he concludes, “I gotta say I’ve been dead wrong about this because he’s done nothing yet.”

So, what’s next for Torres? Will he break out of his slump and become the offensive force Yankee fans know he can be? Or will his struggles continue to be a thorn in the side of the Bronx Bombers?

Can Gleyber Torres turn things around for Yankees?

Now, before we all jump to the conclusion that Torres’ career is on a downward spiral, let’s take a step back and consider a few things. First, it’s still early in the season. Baseball is a marathon, not a sprint, and players go through hot and cold streaks all year long. Second, Torres has a proven track record of success. He’s not some unknown quantity here. The guy has hit over 20 home runs in three different seasons.

Perhaps a change in approach at the plate or some extra work in the batting cage is all Torres needs to get back on track. The Yankees, for their part, are publicly backing their second baseman. Manager Aaron Boone recently said on the Talkin’ Yanks podcast, “I’m probably least worried about Gleyber, offensively… Like, Gleyber’s gonna hit; he’s been close all year.” So, what’s next for Gleyber Torres? Here are a few possibilities:

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• A bench role? With his current struggles, some might suggest a stint on the bench could be in order. This would allow Torres time to work on his swing and clear his head. But with his team in a competitive division, can they afford to give away playing time at second base?
• A change of scenery? A more drastic option could be a position shift. Torres has experience at shortstop. Could a move there spark a turnaround? This would depend on the health and performance of other Bombers infielders, but it’s a possibility to consider.
• Finding his groove: The most likely scenario is that Torres simply needs to find his groove. Perhaps a key hit or a clutch home run will be the spark he needs to get rolling. The talent is undeniable. Yankees fans and Mike Francesca alike are hoping to see that talent translate into wins soon.

Ultimately, the pressure is on Gleyber Torres to turn things around. The Yankees have a World Series window to close, and they need him to be a key contributor. Can he rise to the challenge? We’ll be watching closely.