Last season the Cyclones had a “first” with second baseman Danny Garcia being called up by the Mets to become the first Cyclones alum to reach the major leagues.
This season, the Cyclones will reach another milestone when they field their first ever Brooklyn-born player, David Torres.
The right-handed pitcher was born in Bensonhurst in 1981, but his family moved to Hackensack, N.J., when he was 6. He played for Hackensack High School and then the University of Central Florida. Last season the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Torres had a record of 1-2 with an ERA of 3.33 at the Mets’ Kingsport team. He struck out 25 and only walked seven batters in 27 innings.
What does he remember about his young days in Brooklyn?
“I was a typical kid in Brooklyn, playing ball off the steps of my apartment and later playing stickball in the schoolyard,” he said. “I lived on 68th Street between 20th and 21st [avenues].
“I have a couple of aunts in Bensonhurst. After we moved to Jersey, on every other weekend we would go visit my aunts,” Torres recalled. “In fact, my favorite place to eat in Brooklyn is still at my aunts’ houses. They are Sicilian, on my mom’s side. We had veal, baked ziti — great Italian meals. My other ancestry is Salvadorian.”
What about Torres’ work on the mound?
“ I try to let the other guys put it in play,” he said. “I rely on throwing strikes — not too much can go wrong if I’m throwing strikes. I am trying to get them to hit the ball on the ground from my sinking fastball.”
Maybe Torres’ aunts will send something for the Cyclones to eat, the way Williamsport Crosscutter Anthony Bocchino’s mom did last year for the visiting team. That 2003 Crosscutter team, which featured the Bensonhurst native Bocchino, went on to win the championship.”
June 19, 2004 issue