ARLINGTON, Texas — Gleyber Torres’ long-anticipated return to the Yankees lineup from the COVID IL on Wednesday was especially memorable.
Torres started at shortstop and made the final play to seal Corey Kluber’s no-hitter against the Rangers at Globe Life Park.
“It’s special to me to come back from the COVID list and literally my first game back, Kluber throws a no-hitter,” Torres said Thursday.
It ended with Willie Calhoun’s grounder to the right side of second base, where Torres was shifted. He fielded it cleanly and made a strong throw to Luke Voit at first to set off the celebration.
“Kluber threw really [well] all eight innings and we didn’t want to make a mistake in the last inning, so I was really focused,’’ Torres said Thursday. “It’s the first time in my career I was a part of a no-hitter. I’m really happy for him and for us.”
In the middle of the infield, Torres had a unique view of how well Kluber pitched.
“Every pitch, I saw how good the movement was,” Torres said. “In the seventh inning, I felt Kluber may get the no-hitter. His stuff was amazing.”
Torres played his first game since May 11 and said he felt fine during his most recent bout with COVID — which he was shocked to get, since he’d already had it during the offseason and also got vaccinated.
“One of the trainers called me and said I had COVID and I said, ‘Are you sure?’ ” Torres said. “Everybody was confused. I got vaccinated… I don’t have really good luck in that situation.”
He said he didn’t have symptoms at any point after the diagnosis and after working at the team’s complex in Tampa on Monday and Tuesday, was able to get to the game Wednesday.
“It was really special [Wednesday] night,” Torres said.
The Yankees also remain without eight members of their traveling party that tested positive and Aaron Boone said “at least a couple” could return Friday.
Pitching coach Matt Blake, first base coach Reggie Willits and third base coach Phil Nevin have all been out, along with five other members of the organization.
Rougned Odor returned from the paternity leave list Thursday and Ryan LaMarre was put on the 10-day IL with a right hamstring strain after suffering the injury running out a ground ball in the third inning on Wednesday.
The injury left the Yankees down another outfielder, with Clint Frazier also unavailable with a stiff neck that will require more testing by team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad on Friday after the team returns to New York.
Aaron Hicks is still awaiting a decision about whether he’ll need surgery to repair the torn sheath in his left wrist that would potentially sideline him for the remainder of the season.
Boone said Giancarlo Stanton (strained left quad) could return from the IL “hopefully at some point early in the homestand.”
The most realistic date is Tuesday, following the Yankees’ next off day.
And Boone said he chose to sit Aaron Judge after two straight DH days because Thursday was a day game after a night game.
“Some of the lower body issues he had been nursing early in the season, [I want to] make sure I don’t run him into the ground either, as well as he’s playing,” Boone said.
The moves resulted in Miguel Andujar in left field, Brett Gardner in center and Tyler Wade in right.
“We know there’s adversity and attrition coming for us,’’ Boone said. “We’ve got to deal with it if we’re gonna be a successful club.”