Free agents: NL Central rookies get the call
Key takeaways
- Louis Cardinals (1.9% rostered in ESPN leagues): Joshua Baez remains the jewel of the Cardinals system, but when they needed a replacement for Nathan Church, it was Torres who got the call.
- Torres posted an .897 OPS for Triple-A Memphis last season and was at .931 this season before his promotion.
- Torres is replacing Church, who is on the 10-day IL due a sore shoulder.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Keep your eye on St. Louis Cardinals "newcomer" Bryan Torres. Aaron Doster-Imagn Images Todd Zola May 26, 2026, 08:18 AM ETClose Todd Zola is contributing writer for fantasy baseball at ESPN, specializing in game theory and player analysis. Todd is a member of the FSWA Hall of Fame. He won LABR and Tout Wars championships in 2016.Follow on XMultiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions. The prospect wave didn't stop this past week as another handful of youngsters made their major league debuts. While their roles have yet to be fully fleshed out and playing time is uncertain, there is still a short-term pathway to action as injury replacements.
Bryan Torres, 2B/OF, St. Louis Cardinals (1.9% rostered in ESPN leagues): Joshua Baez remains the jewel of the Cardinals system, but when they needed a replacement for Nathan Church, it was Torres who got the call. At 28 years old, he's older than most prospects, due to his having played independent league ball in 2022 and 2023. His age slightly skews his minor league numbers since he's been relatively old for the level by a couple of years.
Torres posted an .897 OPS for Triple-A Memphis last season and was at .931 this season before his promotion. More importantly, he stole 28 bases in 2025 and already swiped 10 this year. Torres' main asset is a discerning eye, as he walked 100 times while fanning only 82 in 140 Triple-A contests. In his first two games in the bigs, he drew two free passes while striking out just once. His ability to draw walks is useful in points leagues, especially since he has modest power, although he did hit a home run in his MLB debut.