Tigers sign top pick Spencer Torkelson to record contract

The Tigers signed the top pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, Spencer Torkelson, to a record contract.

While MLB teams nationwide struggle to pay their minor leaguers, the Tigers evidently have enough money left over to sign Spencer Torkelson, their first-round pick and top overall selection in the 2020 Draft. Torkelson, a corner infielder out of Arizona State, is one of the best young hitting prospects to enter MLB’s showcase in quite some time. Given the slot value, and expedited process to get Tork added to the 60-player pool as soon as possible, the Tigers ponied up.

Torkelson’s contract is an MLB Draft record, coming in at $8,416,300, which is just above the player slot value this season.

Spencer Torkelson is officially a Tiger, and has been added to the team’s 60-man player pool.

By clearing the slot value by $1,000, it allows for bragging right for Torkelson’s agent, Scott Boras. Ironically enough, the Tigers previously signed 2018 No. 1 pick Casey Mize to a then-record $7.5 million signing bonus as well, signaling that Al Avila is willing to spend big on the Draft.

Torkelson was selected by the Tigers as a third baseman, despite showing prolific power with the Sun Devils as a first baseman. His MLB-ready attributes as a hitter, specifically his plate discipline and power, make him an intriguing option to get playing time in a shortened 2020 season.

In college, Torkelson posted a 337/.463/.729 slash line to go with 54 home runs, 33 doubles and a 110-to-104 BB/K ratio. The 20-year-old went undrafted in high school, but quickly rose up MLB Draft charts thanks to a ridiculous numbers in Tempe.

Torkelson now joins a Tigers farm system which already features some of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball in Mize, Tarik Skubal and Matt Manning. The Tigers previously lacked infield talent, but adding Torkelson takes care of such a deficiency.