This story was excerpted from Bryan Hoch’s Yankees Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

At a time when most everything seems to be going right for the Yankees, many days have felt like an uphill grind for Gleyber Torres, who continues to work toward shaking off a slow start at the plate and in the field. Through it all, the infielder has appreciated the support he has enjoyed from his teammates.

Torres reflected upon that topic earlier this week during the club’s series against the Rays at Tropicana Field, when he connected for a late three-run homer that helped the Bombers to a 10-6 victory and their 10th series win in 13 chances.

“It feels good. Especially in the moment I have, it’s so good, because I did something for the team,” Torres said. “If you saw, everybody was on the field. I expected everybody waiting in the dugout, but no. It was amazing. All those boys waiting, it’s amazing. Everybody was happy, and that makes me feel way better.”

It is not the first time that Torres has voiced similar thoughts; one of the team’s most consistent hitters in 2023, Torres expressed relief after a clutch three-run double against the Brewers on April 27, remarking: “Finally, I do something for the team.”

This has not been the sales pitch that Torres wanted as he approaches his first crack at free agency this offseason, following a spring in which he expressed his desire to remain with the Yankees long-term.

General manager Brian Cashman has seemed cool about discussing an extension with Torres, a stance that Torres’ early-season performance (.216/.297/.278 slash line with only six extra-base hits in 162 at-bats) likely has done nothing to change. Torres has repeatedly downplayed the effect of his contractual status, and manager Aaron Boone doesn’t believe it’s connected.

“I don’t think so,” Boone said. “I think this is just a classic example that hitting is hard, even for really good players. You look around the league; there’s All-Stars that it happens to every year. Physically, it’s all there for him to click, and I do think that will happen."

Boone said that he would like to see Torres quiet some of his head movement at the plate, which could be prompting popups on hittable pitches.

“I feel like with Gleyber, he’s going to hit,” Boone said. “I’m a little surprised because he’s such a good bat-to-ball [hitter] with power. I’m a little surprised when he goes an extended period without it, but it’s not anything that I’m concerned [about]. He’s going to turn it on and it’s going to click, and he’s going to roll.”

Torres acknowledged that his offensive struggles have been frustrating, though perhaps he can draw inspiration from the turnarounds of some of his teammates. Aaron Judge, for example, endured a woeful start to the season, as he batted .207 with six homers through the end of April, and now he is hitting like an MVP candidate.

“The first thing is to be more consistent at the plate,” Torres said. “I’ve missed too many pitches, I’ve struck out. I have to find the way to get more singles than last year. There’s a lot of work before the game and after the game, early work, a lot of conversations with the hitting coach [James Rowson].”

The way that Torres’ teammates spilled onto the artificial turf at the Trop to celebrate his homer on Sunday is a microcosm of what goes on behind the scenes in the clubhouse, where each batting cage session or hitters’ meeting can double as a temperature check.

“Gleyber’s been grinding a little bit; we know that, and he knows that,” catcher Jose Trevino said. “For him to hit that homer, that’s huge -- not only for us, but for himself. Maybe he gets some confidence. He’s been taking some good at-bats and good passes at baseballs. Finally, we get one in a big spot. That’s huge.”

On the good days and the not-so-good ones, Torres says that his teammates ensure he remains ready to contribute.

“It’s not that easy to play baseball, we know that,” Torres said. “It’s not just the coaches, it’s everybody. For that reason, I always say this is home. It’s more than teammates; it’s family. The relationships I have here are amazing, especially in this moment. Everybody is with me right now.”