FLUSHING, NY — Where were you in 2015?
Rookie Bryan Torres was just beginning his 11-year journey to the majors, a road to the show many would have hit the exits on long before 2026.
But that was never realistically in the cards for the 28-year-old from Caguas, Puerto Rico, making his MLB debut last month with St. Louis.
“I’m not going to lie, at one moment, I thought I’d retire,” Torres said. “In that moment, I decided I wanted to give myself a chance, and if I did, give it 100%.”
An 11-year long road to the show and on the day of finally making it—May 23rd against the Reds with his family traveling from their home in Puerto Rico to attend in Cincinnati—Torres, playing left field while batting seventh in the Cardinals lineup, recorded a ton of MLB career firsts, including a walk in his first at-bat, a single his next time up and then a home run in his final at-bat.
“Eleven years to get to here,” he said on that memorable day a few weeks ago.
“It’s been a very long and tough road, and not the usual road. Everything happens for a reason. My family is very happy. We’re living the dream, basically.”
A total of eleven games in the show are now under Torres’ belt and across 38 at-bats, he’s posted a .773 OPS with two home runs, five RBI and one stolen base.
Not a bad start against the best in the sport.
“MLB is the best baseball in the world,” he said in an interview with Latino Sports Tuesday at Citi Field ahead of the Cardinals and Mets opening up a three-game set. “Like all the attention and all eyes in the world here, it feels really good to be part of. Being a part of the greatest baseball in the world and feeling like I’m one of them, it’s special.”
After stints with the Brewers, who he signed with as an international free agent out of Academia Cristiana Elohim, the Giants, and Milwaukee Milkmen of the American Association of Professional Baseball, Bryan Torres finally got his opportunity in the majors with the Cardinals – Image Credit: MLB
By one of them, Torres was referring to a major leaguer. And believe it or not regarding his ties back home to Puerto Rico, he is one of twenty Puerto Rican-born MLB players to appear in a game this season (1/20)—Javier Báez, Kiké Hernández, Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor, Christian Vázquez, Edwin Díaz, Victor Caratini, Willi Castro, Yacksel Ríos, Jovani Morán, Heliot Ramos, Fernando Cruz, Darell Hernaiz, Johnathan Rodríguez, Jose Espada, Edwin Arroyo, Eduardo Rivera, Elmer Rodríguez and Torres.
On joining the group, which has continued to grow as the season goes on, Torres said: “For me, it means a lot because all Puerto Ricans feel what baseball is. Baseball in Puerto Rico means a lot for every Puerto Rican, so being in here and representing our flag in baseball is huge.”
He also had the opportunity to represent the flag of Puerto Rico earlier this year in the 2026 World Baseball Classic which was another dream of his ever since Torres could remember growing up in Caguas—the same hometown as Mets superstar Francisco Lindor, who is currently progressing his way back from a calf injury.
Bryan Torres had the honor of playing for his homeland of Puerto Rico in San Juan and Houston this past March in the 2026 World Baseball Classic – Image Credit: Joel Rodriguez/Latino Sports
“We’ve known each other before I got here (MLB) and have communicated before,” Torres said of Lindor. “He wasn’t in the (World Baseball) Classic but we were talking a little bit in group chats and stuff.”
From one Puerto Rican Met in Lindor to another although he is retired with a busy summer on the horizon up in Cooperstown, Torres later revealed that Carlos Beltrán (Manatí, Puerto Rico) was his favorite player to watch as a kid and even called him his idol.
“That’s crazy, man. Right? Today being in here, where he (Beltrán) got so big in his career, it’s really a dream come true.”
From there, Torres made more dreams come true, signing for fans along the third base side with some waiting for him with their Puerto Rican gear.
“It’s hard to explain it in words,” he said. “They all live and love baseball.”
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