Barrie Baycats sign former MLB prospect Christopher Torres

The Barrie Baycats signed 27-year-old Dominican player Christopher Torres to the team's roster as its fifth import Monday.

Torres is a former Seattle Mariners and Miami Marlins prospect, reaching as high as A-ball in the Marlins' organization.

His last affiliated action came in 2021 in rookie-ball with the FCL Marlins in 2021. He was two-for-10 with a triple in four games.

However, the interesting part of this signing comes in his role with the Baycats.

Since his last professional action, Torres has been working to convert from a middle infielder into becoming a right-handed pitcher.

Videos sent to the team via coaches in the Dominican Republic show Torres consistently reaching velocities of 95+ miles per hour, and topping out at 100mph.

He also features a changeup, curveball, and slider in his arsenal. The breaking pitches appear to have plenty of movement and can range between high 70s to mid 80s in velocity.

Torres joined the team Tuesday after a long journey from his home country. His arrival comes after the release of import pitcher Ramon Henriquez who was released after the team's 8-4 win in Kitchener Sunday.

This will be the first opportunity for Torres to pitch in competitive baseball since making the conversion

Across six seasons in minor league baseball as a second baseman and shortstop, Torres was an above-average hitter.

He hit .243 with a .712 OPS, 14 home runs, and 112 RBI across 315 games in affiliated baseball.

There's a chance, if he sticks with the team, that he could be used as a pinch hitter, or even hit for himself when he's pitching.

Edgar Garcia, a former major league pitcher now with the Guelph Royals, hit for himself in each of his first two starts this season, going one-for-six.

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Barrie (16-10) hosts Guelph (11-17) Thursday.

Torres is expected to pitch in relief before starting Tuesday's game in Guelph.