Wednesday, Jan 19, 2022. 1:22 PM
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Guardians have promoted Joe Torres to assistant pitching coach on manager Terry Francona‘s staff.
Torres has spent the past two seasons as the Guardians’ minor league pitching coordinator. The 39-year-old Torres has been credited with helping develop many of the team’s top young pitchers.
Torres quickly rose through the ranks in the Guardians system. He will work alongside Carl Willis, who is returning for a fifth season as Francona’s pitching instructor.
Selected 10th overall by the Anaheim Angels in the 2000 draft, Torres spent 13 seasons in the minors, with five organizations.
The 62-year-old Francona should be back for a 10th season as manager of the Guardians. He has been slowed by major medical issues for the past two seasons and retired from the team last July to focus on his health.
Francona is currently recovering from toe surgery.
When he returns to his role with the team, Francona will be the winningest manager in Guardians history with 753 wins.
