NEW YORK -- When Yankees infielder Gleyber Torres volunteered to play winter ball in Venezuela this past offseason -- suiting up in the unfamiliar black and yellow of the Leones del Caracas -- he had a simple goal: “Don’t strike out a lot.”

Torres believes that offseason work, plus additional at-bats representing his home country in the World Baseball Classic, primed him for a red-hot start to the season. Torres has been stroking hits, belting homers, stealing bases.

As ace Gerrit Cole said after Wednesday’s win: “He’s kind of doing it all.”

“It feels good,” Torres said. “I feel really comfortable every at-bat. I feel like I’ve got really good patience at home plate right now. I’m not trying to do too much; just get the pitch I can do damage, and just try to have really good at-bats every time I go to home plate.”

Torres stroked three hits in the Yankees’ 4-2 victory over the Phillies on Wednesday, drilling run-scoring singles in the first and sixth innings. He reached base in 14 of 25 plate appearances this season, slashing .421/.560/.789 (8-for-19) with five runs, one double, two homers, six RBIs and six walks, including his 100th career home run earlier this week.

“He’s tough to get out,” Cole said. “Quality at-bats, not taking a pitch off. He’s a good player, and obviously we’re benefiting from him being locked in.”

Said manager Aaron Boone: “That’s what he’s capable of. Hopefully we’re seeing a guy that’s really starting to enter the prime of his career as a young man. I just feel like every at-bat has been super competitive, whether it ends in a good result or not. There’s a lot of calm to what he’s doing out there.”

The most surprising number regarding Torres’ early-season performance could be this: EnteringThursday, he shared the American League lead in stolen bases (five) with Cleveland's Myles Straw, an impressive tally considering that Torres swiped just 10 bags last season. His career high is 14, set in 2021.

“He’s fearless on the basepaths and instinctual,” Boone said. “He’s doing a really good job of being patient and picking his spots wisely. I’ve been really pleased with him on the bases so far this year; it’s absolutely been a factor. It’s a credit to him in working on different things and continuing to gain experience and learn from things.”

A more aggressive approach on the basepaths has been a point of emphasis for the Yankees, dating to last season, when baserunning coordinator Matt Talarico began overhauling the organization’s mindset. With rule changes at the Minor League level, including the pitch timer and larger bases, the Bombers began to do away with a station-to-station mindset.

Now that has arrived in the Majors; the Yanks have swiped nine bases, their most through six games since 1989, when Rickey Henderson had six of the club’s 10 steals over that span.

“During Spring Training, we had a lot of conversations and we practiced a lot on the bases,” Torres said. “Of course, you know the pitcher can’t throw too much to first base or second base. I just try to take advantage and try to be really smart. It depends on the situation, but I try to be aggressive. A stolen base can create more runs, so any opportunity, I try to get it.”

Torres’ place on the roster hardly seemed assured this past offseason, coming off a campaign in which he batted .257 with 24 home runs and 76 RBIs, hearing his name mentioned in trade rumors -- New York discussed dealing Torres to the Marlins ahead of the Aug. 2 Trade Deadline, a stalled swap that could have delivered right-hander Pablo López to the Bronx.

Though Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has said the clubs weren’t as close to that deal as some media reports indicated, Torres endured an offseason of uncertainty, expressing a desire to remain in pinstripes upon his arrival at camp.

Even with prospects Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza envisioned as the future of the middle infield, Torres sees a place with the Yankees.

“I want to be here for a long time,” Torres said. “I feel at home right here. If I have to do something better, I’ll try to do it, to be here with all the guys.”