Former Mustang Nick Torres Signs Minor League Contract with Yankees
12/28/2025 12:00:00 PM | Baseball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Former Cal Poly outfielder Nick Torres, who played on the Mustangs’ 2013 and 2014 NCAA regional teams, received a late Christmas gift Saturday.
Torres, 32, who has played in the Mexican League for six seasons in the outfield and at first base and was the league’s MVP in 2025, signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees, according to several media outlets and internet websites, and has been invited to participate in the Yankees’ spring training camp.
The Yankees have yet to confirm the deal, but Union Laguna confirmed the signing on its website.
“Thank you, Nick Torres, for every game, every delivery, and every thrill you gave us,” the team wrote, “for the way you have connected with the fans, for becoming a reference, an idol, and one of the most beloved players of this house.
“Your time with the Revolución leaves a mark on the diamond, in the stands, and in the hearts of our people. Today it’s your turn to keep growing and fulfill one more dream, now with the Yankees organization. It fills us with pride to see you take this step and take your talent to a new stage. La Laguna and Algodoneros will always be your home. Thank you, Nick.”
In chronological order, Torres hit .315, .311, .377, .338, .341 and .347 in his six Mexican League seasons. In his last three campaigns, Torres hit 11, 15 and 27 home runs. His RBI totals ranged from 86 in 2019 to 79 in 2025.
“God is good,” said Torres. “It’s funny. I was almost waiting for a mediocre year as a sign to stop playing, but with every season I just continued to get better and better and now I’ve been blessed with this second chance.”
“I had actually long foregone the dream of playing in the states again,” Torres added. “I was just playing because I was making good money for my family, but after this last season I thought that there might be an opportunity for me somewhere outside of Mexico.
“It’s a minor league free agent deal, but my understanding is that I will get some time in big league (spring training) camp.” That will be in Tampa, Florida, in February.
Torres’ coach at Cal Poly, Larry Lee, praised his persistence and determination.
“It’s great to see Nick getting another opportunity to play for an MLB organization,” Lee said. “He’s hit at every level of professional baseball.
“He’s been dominant during his time in Mexico,” Lee added. “His perseverance has taken him on a unique path.”
After playing at Cal Poly for three seasons, Torres was drafted in the fourth round of the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft by the San Diego Padres and played five seasons in the Minor Leagues, reaching as high as Triple-A El Paso in 2016 and Round Rock (Texas Rangers) in 2018 before he was released.
In five Minor League seasons, Torres hit .280 over 456 games with 109 doubles, seven triples, 31 home runs and 222 RBIs. He played for the Padres’ rookie league team, Lake Elsinore and Fort Wayne (Single-A), San Antonio (Double-A) and El Paso and Round Rock (Triple-A). He also played for Kansas City in the independent leagues in 2018 and played for Peoria in the 2015 Arizona Fall League.
In 2019, Torres played for Puebla in his first Mexican League season, followed by five seasons with Union Laguna. In six Mexican League seasons, he posted a .321 batting average with 178 doubles, 13 triples, 128 home runs and 501 RBIs over 691 games. His OPS (on-base and slugging percentages) was .955, including a staggering 1.155 mark last summer.
Torres also was on the rosters of Guasave and Hermosillo in the Mexican Pacific Winter League.
In his three seasons at Cal Poly (2012-14), primarily in right field, Torres hit .309 with 48 doubles, 18 home runs and 127 RBIs in 173 games. Twice he earned first-team All-Big West Conference honors and he also earned the team’s Monty Waltz Big Stick Award in 2013 as a sophomore as well as the Jason Maas Captain’s Award in 2014 as a junior.
Torres is fifth in Cal Poly’s record book for career doubles (48), 14th in career home runs (18) and 15th in career hits (205).
Torres is a 2012 graduate of Lakewood High School in Southern California.
