ISOTOPES/COMBAT SPORTS
Torres family's artistic genes keep flowing
16-year-old Benjamin Torres is scheduled to play National Anthem at Isotopes Park
Al Torres is a talented artist whose work is often available for viewing on Albuquerque storefront windows, especially as holidays approach. His first Halloween creation of 2026, in fact, recently went up at a local pizza shop.
Torres鈥 work also can be found on the walls of the family鈥檚 boxing gym at his son Josh鈥檚 South Valley home. Josh Torres is something of an artist himself in the ring 鈥 a tough but skilled, thinking-man鈥檚 fighter who鈥檚 fashioned a 31-7-2 record in 18 years as a pro.
Then there鈥檚 Al鈥檚 younger son Benjamin Torres, just turned 16, whose artistry with the guitar will bring him to home plate of Isotopes Park on Sunday. There, he鈥檒l perform the National Anthem at the Isotopes鈥 final home game of the season.
Just as his big brother has been a quick study in the ring, Ben Torres became a guitar virtuoso in near-record time.
鈥淚鈥檝e been playing coming up on three years now,鈥 he said.
How did he get so good so fast, good enough to be invited to perform the Star-Spangled Banner in front of 10,000 or more Sunday?
鈥淚 just started by playing the most difficult songs I know,鈥 he said, 鈥渟tarting with 鈥楨ruption鈥 by Eddie Van Halen.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what started my whole journey playing guitar. Just starting 鈥榟orns deep鈥 in the deep end got me better quicker.鈥
His father was surprised, pleasantly, at how quickly young Ben progressed.
鈥淗e got his first guitar and started playing,鈥 Al Torres said, 鈥渁nd within a month he was already having tunes and (sounding) really good.
鈥淎nd it鈥檚 all self-taught.鈥
Ben said he typically practices three to four hours a day. Yet, it鈥檚 not all guitar, all the time. He鈥檚 an honors student at Mark Armijo Academy and loves football 鈥 though playing tackle football, a guitar-unfriendly pursuit in which fingers can get broken and bent, probably isn鈥檛 going to happen.
The opportunity at Isotopes Park had its germination when Ben played the National Anthem at a May 30 boxing card that featured his brother in the main event. His rendition of the anthem likely lasted longer than Josh鈥檚 fight, which he won by KO in 1 minute, 26 seconds of the first round.
Ben built the guitar he played that night.
On June 5, Al and Ben attended the Lowrider Bike Graduation Showcase, which included categories for skateboard and guitar fabrication. A member of the Isotopes鈥 promotions/marketing staff was on hand because the team was planning its Aug. 22 鈥淟owrider Night鈥 promotion.
There, Al showed her the video of Ben鈥檚 rendition of the National Anthem at the boxing card in hopes of having his son perform at Lowrider Night. That spot was already taken, but Sept. 20 was available.
Al Torres credited Rebecca Zook, the Isotopes鈥 Director of Marketing, and KyLee Dutton, a promotions assistant, for making it happen. Sunday is Mariachi Night at The Lab.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good for me,鈥 Ben said, 鈥渂ecause I play for my Mariachi group at my school.鈥
The family鈥檚 artistic tendencies, Al said, have been there from the beginning. 鈥淓ver since I was a kid, when I started drawing,鈥 he said.
Josh Torres鈥 artistic side has come out principally in the boxing ring, where he鈥檚 put more than a few opponents on 鈥 wait for it 鈥 the canvas.
But, he said, 鈥淚鈥檝e always liked music.鈥
鈥淚 used to like to make hip-hop music and stuff with my friends,鈥 Josh added. 鈥淚 started off with poetry as a young kid, and as a teenager (he and his friends) started throwing our poetry on top of instrumentals and beats.鈥
Beating up on opponents in the ring is the path Josh chose. Ben, he and his father believe, could have done the same, successfully, had he made that decision.
鈥淗e boxed when he was little and trained with us and stuff,鈥 Josh said. 鈥淗e was a natural 鈥 he had the size and the strength.
鈥淏ut at the end of the day, he found that music is what he loved. I think that鈥檚 what鈥檚 important for us, to find what we love.鈥
Ben鈥檚 love for the guitar, he believes, will sustain him in life far beyond Sunday at Isotopes Park. Though his academics suggest there are other paths he could pursue, it鈥檚 music that calls him.
鈥淵eah, for sure,鈥 Ben said. 鈥溾 I see myself, down the line, playing music for people.鈥