Exploits of Miller, Chapman not lost on prospects traded for them

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The baseball world has marveled at the dominance of two left-handed relievers in the World Series, with Cleveland’s Andrew Miller posting zero after zero, and Chicago’s Aroldis Chapman consistently humming 100-plus mph fastballs. Everyone is on the edge of their seats every time either one comes out of the bullpen to enter a postseason game.

There are a couple people who have more of a vested interest than most, and they’re not part of the Indians or Cubs organizations. Not anymore, anyway. But two prospects, now Yankees, are as responsible for Miller and Chapman being in Cleveland and Chicago as just about anyone.

The Chapman deal went down first, on July 25. The key return for the Yankees in the deal was shortstop Gleyber Torres, a teenager playing well beyond his years in the Carolina League, then the Florida State League, and now the Arizona Fall League. He took over the No. 1 spot on the Yankees’ Top 30 Prospects list for just six days, when the Indians sent Clint Frazier and three more prospects to the Yankees for Miller.

Frazier and Torres, ranked Nos. 15 and 17 on the Top 100 Prospects list, didn’t get to play together during the 2016 regular season, with Frazier up in Triple-A, two rungs higher than Torres, but they did meet in the Yankees’ instructional league, where there was a bond among the large stable of New York’s newly acquired prospects.

Game Date Time (air time/game time) Matchup TV Gm 1 Oct. 25   CLE 6, CHC 0 Gm 2 Oct. 26   CHC 5, CLE 1 Gm 3 Oct. 28   CLE 1, CHC 0 Gm 4 Oct. 29   CLE 7, CHC 2 Gm 5 Oct. 30 CLE @ CHC FOX *Gm 6 Nov. 1 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CHC @ CLE FOX *Gm 7 Nov. 2 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CHC @ CLE FOX * If necessary | All times listed ET • World Series coverageShop for postseason gear: Cubs | Indians

“We really didn’t talk about the pieces of the trade in particular, but we did talk a lot about each other,” said Torres through translator Carlos Mendoza, one of his Scottsdale Scorpions coaches in the Arizona Fall League, and the Yankees’ Minor League infield coordinator. “We tried to get to know each other a little bit more.”

“I roomed with Rashad Crawford and Justus Sheffield at instructs,” said Frazier (Sheffield was traded with Frazier from Cleveland, and Crawford was part of the Chapman haul). “Billy McKinney [also part of the Chapman deal] and Gleyber would come over. All the guys who were traded would come over.”

Frazier is finished for the year, back at home in Atlanta, while Torres has been one of the best performers in the Fall League. They’ve both kept tabs on the postseason, with slightly different perspectives. But both are former members of the organizations competing for a championship and are key to the future of the Yankees, who are trying to flip the switch and build from within.

“I haven’t had time to watch all of the games, but the little I’m watching, I’m really happy for them,” Torres said of his former Cubs organization mates. “I know a lot of the guys out there. I just want to wish them well. …

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