With Opening Day of the 2022 MLB season around the corner, the New York Yankees, who will unfortunately have to wait to start their season due to inclement weather, are prepared to duke it out in a competitive American League East division. With a scary up-and-coming team in the Toronto Blue Jays, a pesky team that has been a thorn in their side in the Tampa Bay Rays and of course, their hated rivals, the Boston Red Sox, to contend with, the division is sure to be a difficult one to secure for New York. If the Yankees are to have their best possible season, they will need contributions across the roster, particularly from important players, or X-Factors. Coming off of his best season since his standout rookie year in 2017, many would expect the Yankees' X-Factor to be superstar outfielder Aaron Judge. While Judge, who was finally able to stay on the field in 2021, will undoubtedly be important in the 2022 MLB season, he's not quite the Yankees' X-Factor. Could it be starting pitcher Luis Severino? The talented hurler hasn't pitched a full season since 2019, as he has battled injuries. While a return to form for Severino would be huge, he's not quite the X-factor. If it's not Judge or Severino, who is it? It's someone who might surprise others but would not surprise his teammates in the slightest.

Yankees X-Factor In 2022 MLB Season

The Yankees' X-Factor in the 2022 MLB season is a hitter who had a down season in 2021 but could help power the team to the playoffs with a rebound year. It's second baseman Gleyber Torres. Torres came to the Yankees via a trade from the Chicago Cubs back in 2016. The Venezuela native arrived in New York with huge expectations, as he was rated as the number-one shortstop prospect by MLB Pipeline. For a Yankees team that had just ushered off legendary shortstop Derek Jeter into retirement just a few years earlier, the prospect of falling into another generational player at the position was more than exciting.

In just two years, Torres was in the big leagues. Not only that, but the talented young star made the All-Star team in his first season in the Bronx, posting an .820 OPS while breaking rookie records previously set by the likes of Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle. Needless to say, Yankees fans were starting to get excited about Torres, who was 21 at the time. He was so young- and there was the potential for him to get even better.

Get better, he did. The sequel to his rookie year was even more incredible. Torres, who profiled as more of a contact hitter, went on to club 38 homers while raising his batting average to .278.  Is it any coincidence that the Yankees won over 100 games in each of those seasons?

Since that point, the team has posted winning percentages below the .600 mark in each of the last two years, while Torres has been stuck in a funk. The power he showed in those first two years? Gone, as the now-25-year-old clubbed just nine homers last year. Torres has also seemingly taken steps back as a contact hitter, posting .243 and .259 averages in 2020 and 2021.

Article Continues Below
More New York Yankees News
New York Yankees starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (0) participates in spring training workouts at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Yankees’ Marcus Stroman’s ‘open’ approach to eventual NY injury returnJosh Davis ·
May 23, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt (36) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Clarke Schmidt’s pre-start preparation will fire up Yankees fansMike Gianakos ·
New York Yankees third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) rounds the bases after hitting a three run home run against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Yankee Stadium.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. F-bomb caught on camera as Maikel Garcia beef continuesZachary Draves ·
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) pitches against the Colorado Rockies during the sixth inning at loanDepot Park. Gallen, deGrom
1 trade New York Yankees must avoid making before 2025 deadlineZachary Howell ·
New York Yankees third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) fields a ground ball in the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. exits Royals game with possible injuryTroy Finnegan ·
New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger (35) hits a single against the Boston Red Sox during the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium.
Yankees’ Cody Bellinger hits career milestone vs. RoyalsChristopher Hennessy ·

The former top prospect has struggled defensively as well, prompting the Yankees to shift him from the position he was once viewed as a top prospect at, to second base. The club believes the switch will help his overall game in the 2022 season. While he may never approach his 38-homer season again, there's still hope that he can be a .280-ish, 25-homer kind of guy.

A defensive switch coupled with better health- Torres has had multiple bouts with COVID-19– and a new approach at the dish could have Torres looking like the best version of himself in the 2022 MLB season. This year's Spring Training has already provided hope that Torres can do just that, as he has enjoyed a standout preseason at the plate. The Yankees infielder has slashed .294/.351/.559 with three home runs in 12 Grapefruit League games played. Could this be the beginning of a bounce-back season for Torres?

The young infielder was worth over 3.0 wins above replacement in his first two seasons with New York. Since that point, Torres hasn't even been worth 1.0 WAR in a single season, per Baseball Reference.

It's clear that he has a big impact on the club's records and their true potential as a team. If the Yankees want to secure their first World Series title since 2009, they will need the best version of Gleyber Torres.