NEW YORK — After Aaron Judge’s first game back from the injured list, a 4-1 Yankees win over the Houston Astros, the young superstar right fielder talked up the amazing and younger 22-year-old who is back at second base after beginning the season filling in at short for Didi Gregorius.

Watching Gleyber Torres go deep for the third day in a row to push his homer total to 18 in the Yankees’ 75th game of the season – that’s a 39-homer pace – Judge made a pretty interesting statement.

The face of the Yankees, Judge made it seem as if Torres is on his way to being that and more.

“My goodness,” Judge said. “When I was 22, I was playing in low-A Charleston. He’s up here facing the best of the best and exceeding all expectations in what he’s been doing. He’s a star of this game, a future of this game and, man, it’s exciting to watch.”

Torres’ development into a power hitter has been a steady and amazing climb since he hit just two homers in 50 games as a 17-year-old Chicago Cubs minor leaguer, first-year pro in 2014 and then three in 126 games as an 18-year-old in 2015.

Torres jumped to 11 homers in 125 games in 2016, then 14 in 55 games in 2017 before making a big leap last year to the big leagues and mashing 24 homers in 123 games for the Yankees.

This year, Torres had just five homers in his first 38 games, but starting with a three-homer doubleheader against Baltimore on May 15 he has 13 in his last 32 games. On Friday night, Torres added to a 2-1 Yankees lead in the seventh inning with a two-run homer off Astros reliever Hector Rondon.

What’s the secret to his power surge?

“I prepare really well during my offseason,” said Torres, who is hitting .287 with 45 RBI in 70 games. “I do a lot of exercise. I try to get a little bit more power, more stamina. I think it's the difference for sure. I'm a little bit older right now. I still learn, but I'm a little bit mature. For sure, I know the pitchers a little bit, too. I faced them last year. I know a little bit about that.”

No matter, Torres still doesn’t see himself as one of the sluggers in a Yankees’ lineup that’s filled with them.

“I don't think so,” he said. “I'm a contact hitter, for sure. The power is coming every day, I feel happy for that. I help my team. That's what is most important.”

Torres has come up huge so far this season for the Yankees, who are 48-27 and leading the AL East by 4 1/2 games despite playing most of the season with many stars on the injured list. Torres has been healthy throughout and a steady contributor throughout, and on Friday night he also came up big in the field by starting a difficult and crucial 4-6-3 double play that ended the Houston eighth with two on and his team up three runs.

“He’s been playing great,” center fielder Aaron Hicks said of Torres. “We kind of saw it last year. The plate discipline that he has and the ability to drive the ball the other way and make adjustments, it’s been pretty cool to watch."

Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.