Cristofer Torin was aware of the speculation that some in the industry thought his body might eventually force him to move off shortstop.
He mostly put them to rest in 2025.
After showing up to spring training with a revamped physique, Torin turned in a solid offensive season for High-A Hillsboro and played his typically strong defense at shortstop.
In previous years, Torin had a thicker, heavy-legged build that had evaluators concerned. If he looked like this at age 19, they wondered, how would he look in his 20s, and would that compromise his mobility at shortstop?
“I definitely heard the comments,” Torin said, speaking through interpreter Alex Arpiza. “I used it as motivation to be able to prove myself and continue to show what I can do at shortstop.”
Torin said he spent the offseason after 2024 focused on his body, spending time in the gym and altering his diet. He came into 2025 at about the same weight—about 190 pounds, he said—but with everything redistributed on his 5-foot-10 frame.
After hitting just .255 in Low-A Visalia in 2024, Torin hit .287/.381/.385 with six home runs in 122 games for Hillsboro and then spent a week with Double-A Amarillo.
Most onlookers connected his disappointing 2024 season with his improved physical build the following year.
“He came in physically stronger,” Hillsboro manager Mark Reed said. “You could just tell that maybe mindset-wise he went into last offseason saying, ‘I’ve got to go work. That’s not the numbers I want. That’s not the guy I am. I’ve got to come back and show I’ve got a totally different mindset and physicality.’ “
For most evaluators, the total package gives Torin a high floor even if the ceiling remains harder to project.
“I’m still waiting for him to get somewhat stronger to drive the ball more,” one National League scout said. “When you put all the components of what he does together—the ability to make contact, spray it around the field, draw his walks, not strike out, and play the defense he plays—that’s a guy you want on your team for a long time.”