Spencer Torkelson, the former top pick of the Detroit Tigers, is being sent down. After a slow start in 2024, first baseman Spencer Torkelson, who blasted 31 home runs for the Detroit Tigers in 2023, is being sent back down to Triple-A.
According to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit Tigers are optioning first baseman Spencer Torkelson to Triple-A Toledo on Sunday evening.
Torkelson, the first overall choice in the 2020 MLB Draft, was hitting.Through 54 games this season, 201 has four home runs, 18 RBI, a.597 OPS, -5 defensive runs saved, and a -1.1 WAR. He was kept out of Detroit’s lineups against the Boston Red Sox on Friday and Sunday.
According to Petzold, the trade will be made official before the Tigers face the Texas Rangers on Monday. Outfield prospect Justyn-Henry Malloy will take Torkelson’s position on the active 26-man roster.
Despite Torkelson’s struggles at the plate and on the field in 2024, the decision to send him down to the minors is noteworthy, given his background.
Torkelson was the top prospect in Detroit’s farm system for both 2021 and 2022. He was widely regarded as one of baseball’s top five prospects at the time, and he held the record for the biggest signing bonus in MLB Draft history until Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes broke it in 2023.
The Arizona State slugger underperformed as a rookie, batting.203 with eight home runs, 28 RBI, a.604 OPS, -3 defensive runs saved, and a -1.3 WAR in 111 MLB games in 2022.
Torkelson’s bat came to life in 2023, when he played 159 of 162 games. While his.233 batting average,.758 OPS, and 0.8 WAR were not very impressive, Torkelson’s 31 home runs and 94 RBI are the highest by a Tigers player in a single season since 2017.
The first baseman suffered even more in the field, recording -11 defensive runs saved.
With his poor start in 2024, the Tigers’ brass had had enough. The 24-year-old will now have the opportunity to fine-tune his mechanics in the minors before returning to the major leagues.
Torkelson was 0-for-16 with nine strikeouts and no walks in his last four outings. Torkelson had only gone 3-for-37 since May 20.
According to Jayhay of Underdog Fantasy, Torkelson had the fifth-worst fWAR among qualified batters this season and was one of 14 with a negative fWAR.
Without Torkelson, third baseman Gio Urshela and outfielder Mark Canha could spend more time at first base. Andy Ibáñez, a utility player, also has prior experience playing first.
The Tigers and Rangers will begin their series at 8:05 p.m. ET on Monday.
Leave a Reply