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Tigers: Should Detroit be worried about Spencer Torkelson?

By Scott Rogust

TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 05: Spencer Torkelson #73 of the Detroit Tigers bats in the second inning against the New York Yankees in a spring training game at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 05, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 05: Spencer Torkelson #73 of the Detroit Tigers bats in the second inning against the New York Yankees in a spring training game at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 05, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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The 2020 first-overall selection for the Detroit Tigers has gone hitless in spring training thus far.

In spring training, fans of all 30 MLB teams look forward to not only see the regular faces get ready for the upcoming season, but also the top-tier prospects that get some work in before being sent to the minors. For the Detroit Tigers faithful, they were psyched to see 2020 first-overall selection Spencer Torkelson light up the stat sheets this spring.

Well, that has not happened.

In Detroit’s game against the New York Yankees on Friday, Torkelson went hitless in two at-bats, one of which ending in a strikeout. As a result, Torkelson has now gone 0-for-15 throughout the spring and has struck out nine times.

Is it time for the Tigers to panic about Torkelson? Of course not!

Tigers: Spencer Torkelson’s less than impressive spring is nothing to fret about

To fret over more than a handful of spring training games is simply unnecessary. Torkelson is a rookie who was set to start the 2021 season in the minors anyway. That is where he can truly gain his footing and show the Tigers what he is made of.

Torkelson’s spring did not get off to the greatest start, as he was sidelined briefly due to a small cut on his right index finger. The injury was minor, but what caused this slump for Torkelson? This can likely be attributed to Torkelson wanting to make an immediate impact in his first camp with the Tigers. He is the third-ranked prospect in the entire league for a reason, and he wanted to show out this spring.

The young infielder was a high draft selection because he was a dominant force on Arizona State’s baseball team. In his three seasons with the Sun Devils, Torkelson slashed .337/.463/.729 while recording 54 home runs, 130 RBI, 152 runs scored and 168 hits.

Tigers fans, don’t let Torkelson’s spring struggles put you in a bad mood. There is still plenty of time for the 21-year-old to put all the pieces together to eventually earn his big league call-up in the near future.

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