OLD ORCHARD BEACH — The Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League on Monday announced the hiring of Chris Torres as manager for the 2013 season.
“I have always busted my hump as a player, and I’m going to bring that as a manager to show these guys you have to work hard at becoming a better player in several aspects of the game,” said Torres.
Torres, a 32nd round draft pick of the 2005 MLB June Amateur Draft by the Detroit Tigers, will be entering his first season as a manager.
A native of Vero Beach, Fla., Torres attended Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn. from 2001-05 after declining to sign out of high school with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a 32nd round selection.
During the last seven seasons, Torres played within the Tigers’ organization as well as with several independent professional teams including the Newark Bears, the North Shore Spirit and the Nashua Pride. As a member of the Pride, Torres helped capture the 2007 Can Am League title. The general manager of the 2007 Nashua Pride team, Chris Hall, is the current FCBL commissioner.
During his final year of professional baseball in 2012, Torres hit .317 with 12 home runs and 35 RBIs for the Worcester Tornadoes of the Can-Am League.
“I have a strong passion for the game, and if I’m not playing, then I want to be coaching,” said Torres. “When you age as a ballplayer, things start to change and the window of opportunity closes. I am currently engaged, which factors into making the decision to move to managing.”
Torres will be following in the footsteps of his father, Victor, who is a hitting coach in the San Francisco Giants organization.
“My father was a huge influence on me to coach,” said Torres. “He helps out the Giants organization, but recently has been battling cancer, and that has limited his traveling. When the Giants travel to town, he pitches to them in batting practice.”
The Futures Collegiate Baseball League is a premiere, wood bat, summer league consisting of top college athletes throughout the country.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
