Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Provides offense in loss
Rotowire
Torkelson went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 6-2 loss to the White Sox.
Torkelson's blast off Michael Kopech in the fourth inning opened the scoring, but it was all the Tigers could muster in the contest. This was Torkelson's first homer in 14 games, a span in which he's gone just 11-for-50 (.220) with three doubles and four RBI. The first baseman is up to five homers, 26 RBI, 23 runs scored, two stolen bases and a .234/.315/.368 slash line over 56 contests overall. Despite the lackluster numbers, the Tigers seem content with letting the 23-year-old learn on the job in another rebuilding year.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Records second steal
Rotowire
Torkelson went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 3-0 loss to the White Sox.
Torkelson accounted for two of the Tigers' nine baserunners. Since May 16, the first baseman has gone 15-for-58 (.259) with a 13:18 BB:K. It's a slight improvement on his .239/.322/.363 slash line and 10 percent walk rate for the season. He's added four home runs, two steals, 24 RBI and 22 runs scored through 54 contests in a near-everyday role.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Good game in win
Rotowire
Torkelson went 2-for-3 with two walks, an RBI and a run scored in Thursday's win over the White Sox.
Torkelson and Riley Greene had identical stat lines from the third and fourth spots in the lineup. While Greene seems to be breaking out in his sophomore campaign, Torkelson hasn't seen the same level of success, as he's batting only .242 with a .681 OPS. Both figures are up from last year, however, and the 23-year-old has the talent to keep trending upward through the summer months. He also has multiple hits in three of his last six games.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Carries offense in loss
Rotowire
Torkelson went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Nationals.
He mashed a Patrick Corbin fastball over the wall in left-center field in the first inning, but it was all the offense the Tigers could muster. Torkelson has found a groove in May, and through 16 games the 23-year-old is slashing .290/.333/.484 with six doubles, two homers and nine RBI.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Doubles twice in win
Rotowire
Torkelson went 2-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 4-0 victory over Pittsburgh.
Torkleson extended Detroit's lead to 2-0 with his RBI double in the first inning. He'd lead off the third with his second double, eventually scoring on an errant pickoff attempt. The 23-year-old Torkelson is now 15-for-46 in his last 12 games, with six doubles and a home run in that span. Following a slow start to the season, he's now slashing .238/.290/.367 with three homers, 14 runs scored and 18 RBI through 162 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Adds three hits Tuesday
Rotowire
Torkelson went 3-for-4 with a double in Tuesday's loss against the Guardians.
Torkelson has now hit safely in five straight games, going 9-for-22 with three doubles and a homer in that span. After a disappointing rookie campaign and a slow start to the 2023 season, Torkelson is starting to hint at the potential that made him the first overall pick in the 2020 Draft. He's boosted his slash line to .240/.294/.372 with three home runs, 12 runs scored and 16 RBI through 143 plate appearances this year.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Goes yard in defeat
Rotowire
Torkelson went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored in Sunday's 12-6 loss to the Cardinals.
Torkelson took Steven Matz deep to center in the fourth to get the Tigers on the board. It was his first home run since April 19 and just his third of the year. The 23-year-old does have three multi-hit efforts over his last five games, but he is still slashing just .223/.276/.347 with 16 RBI, 12 runs and an 8:28 BB:K over 134 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Goes deep Wednesday
Rotowire
Torkelson went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and a solo home run in Wednesday's loss to the Guardians.
The Tigers sputtered on offense in the 3-2 defeat, but Torkelson was still able to contribute. The second-year player now has two home runs and a .651 OPS across 17 games. Those aren't great numbers, but they seem to be a small step forward after Torkelson hit eight home runs and posted a .604 OPS across 110 games last season. He should continue to see regular playing time and has the talent to trend upward.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Goes deep in three-hit game
Rotowire
Torkelson went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBI in Tuesday's win over the Astros.
Torkelson doubled home a run in the top of the first inning, then blasted a two-run shot in the eighth for his first home run of the season. The 23-year-old had a tough rookie campaign last year, though there's plenty of talent here, so fantasy managers should stick with him, especially following Tuesday's strong performance.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Struggling this spring
Rotowire
Torkelson has just three hits in 18 Grapefruit League at-bats so far with six strikeouts.
Torkelson is off to a slow start, which is discouraging after he struggled to a .203/.285/.319 slash line across 360 at-bats as a rookie in 2022. The team has suggested the 23-year-old will serve as the everyday first baseman this season, and as a one-time No. 1 overall pick, he should be given plenty of opportunities to succeed. Fantasy managers should stay patient, as Torkelson has the talent and pedigree to get rolling at any point, though there could still be some rough patches along the way.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: In line to be primary first baseman
Rotowire
Torkelson is likely to serve as the Tigers' everyday first baseman in 2023, manager A.J. Hinch intimated to Jason Beck of MLB.com Thursday.
It's difficult to envision anyone else but Torkelson at first base when looking at Detroit's roster, especially since Miguel Cabrera is now viewed as a designated hitter. Still, it's nice to hear Hinch hint that Torkelson will be given plenty of leash. The former No. 1 overall pick struggled as a rookie in 2022, posting a lowly .604 OPS with eight home runs over 110 games. He wasn't great after a demotion to Triple-A Toledo, either, with a .738 OPS. However, Torkelson is just 23 years and has plenty of pedigree, offering hope he could figure things out in 2023.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Takes seat Monday
Rotowire
Torkelson isn't starting Monday against the Mariners.
Torkelson started the last three games but went 0-for-10 with five strikeouts. He'll get a breather while Harold Castro takes over at first base and bats fifth.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Resting for day game
Rotowire
Torkelson is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Royals.
Harold Castro will take over at first base while the rookie rests for the series finale. Torkelson started in both of the first two matchups with Kansas City, going 0-for-7 with a walk and two strikeouts.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Sitting Sunday
Rotowire
Torkelson is not in Sunday's lineup against the White Sox.
Torkelson is hitting .179 with zero home runs over his last 10 games, but on the bright side, he is only striking out at a 16.7 percent clip over that stretch. Harold Castro will start at first base and hit third.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Three hits in romp
Rotowire
Torkelson went 3-for-4 with a walk, two doubles and three runs scored in Monday's 11-0 win over the Orioles.
Torkelson played a big role in an easy Detroit win, and it was the rookie's second three-hit effort this month. It's been a tough debut season overall, though the 23-year-old is batting a solid .280 in September. Torkelson certainly has the pedigree, and he could be in line for a nice 2023 campaign if he carries over any momentum into the offseason.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Out of Wednesday's lineup
Rotowire
Torkelson is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Astros.
Torkelson is hitting .265/.375/.471 with one home run, six strikeouts and four walks in 10 games since returning from Triple-A. Harold Castro will start at first base and hit third.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Regains hold of everyday role
Rotowire
Torkelson will start at first base and bat fifth in Monday's game against the Astros.
After a rough start to begin his MLB career followed by an underwhelming six-week run at Triple-A Toledo, Torkelson is finally beginning to resemble the top-flight prospect he was billed as heading into the season since he rejoined the Tigers as a September call-up. Over his first eight games on the month, Torkelson is slashing .333/.438/.593 with a 15.6 percent strikeout rate. The September sample is a small one, but it's been enough for Torkelson to re-emerge as the team's everyday first baseman. He'll be picking up his seventh consecutive start Monday.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Back on bench Sunday
Rotowire
Torkelson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.
Torkelson had started at first base in both of the Tigers' last two games, once against a lefty (Daniel Lynch) and once against a righty (Jonathan Heasley). He went 0-for-5 between those contests, though he managed to reach base twice on hit-by-pitches and once via a walk. Torkelson remains a key foundational piece for the rebuilding Tigers, but he won't be assured an everyday role in September in light of his struggles at the big-league level this season along with his middling production at Triple-A Toledo prior to his promotion Thursday. Harold Castro will start at first base and bat cleanup Sunday and still looks to be the Tigers' preferred option, at least for now.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Receives call-up
Rotowire
The Tigers recalled Torkelson from Triple-A Toledo on Thursday.
Torkelson and infield prospect Ryan Kreidler received promotions from Toledo with the Tigers' 26-man roster expanding to 28 on Thursday. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 First-Year Player Draft got off to a rough start to his big-league career earlier this season, turning in a .197/.282/.295 slash line over 298 plate appearances before being demoted to Toledo on July 17. His .737 OPS over 35 games at Triple-A didn't mark a major improvement for the 23-year-old considering the level of competition, so the Tigers may not be eager to reinstall him as their everyday first baseman in September. Harold Castro will remain in the lineup at first base in Thursday's series finale with the Mariners, while Torkelson hits the bench.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Torkelson was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Sunday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
After initially not being included in Sunday's lineup, Torkelson was demoted to Triple-A. The rookie has spent the entire season to this point in the majors, but since June 20, he's batted .194 with one homer, five RBI and eight runs over 72 at-bats in 22 games. Overall, the first baseman is batting .197 with five homers, 21 RBI and 25 runs over 264 at-bats in 83 contests this year. The demotion may just be temporary until he finds his groove again. Considering that the Tigers are completely out of playoff contention, it doesn't really make sense for Torkelson to be with Toledo for long.
