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Detroit Tigers need to draft Spencer Torkelson

By David Hill

LAKELAND, FL - FEBRUARY 28: A Detroit Tigers equipment bag sits on the field prior to the Spring Training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on February 28, 2020 in Lakeland, Florida. The Blue Jays defeated the Tigers 5-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
LAKELAND, FL - FEBRUARY 28: A Detroit Tigers equipment bag sits on the field prior to the Spring Training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on February 28, 2020 in Lakeland, Florida. The Blue Jays defeated the Tigers 5-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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The Detroit Tigers have plenty of interesting arms in their system, but are lacking an impact bat. Spencer Torkelson would be the perfect fit.

As the Detroit Tigers continue their rebuild, they have focused on pitching. The early returns have been promising, with Casey Mize, Matt Manning, and Tarik Skubal all ranking in the top four Tigers’ prospects. With that trio in AA together, it would not be much of a surprise to see them arrive together at the major league level.

While GM Al Avila has taken the mantra that one can never have enough pitching to heart, the Tigers find themselves without an impact bat in the minors. Riley Greene, their top hitting prospect, has displayed a solid feel for hitting, and raw power potential, but is not the type of slugger that can put fear into a pitcher.

Enter Spencer Torkelson. There is no questioning his mammoth power potential, as he has belted 54 homers in 628 collegiate plate appearances. Torkelson has also displayed an ability to hit to all fields with power, while showing an excellent eye at the plate and a knack for working the count.

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Torkelson is not just an aluminum bat phenom. His two seasons in the Cape Cod League showed his ability to hit with a wooden bat, as he produced a .340/.484/.745 batting line with nine homers and 11 doubles in 126 plate appearances.

Defensively, Torkelson has put in the work required to improve his game at first. While he is not likely to ever be a Gold Glove caliber first baseman, he has gotten markedly more comfortable at the position. He has even gotten work at third and in left, giving him some defensive versatility if needed.

Torkelson would also address a weakness in the organization. The Tigers do not have a single first baseman listed amongst their top 30 prospects, further highlighting the need for an impact player at the position. Although there had been some talk that Detroit could consider Austin Martin with the first overall pick, Torkelson appears to be the safer pick.

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The Detroit Tigers need an impact bat in their system. With the first overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, the Tigers should select Spencer Torkelson.

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