Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Blasts off again Saturday
Rotowire
Torkelson went 1-for-3 with a walk and a three-run home run in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Royals.
Following a disappointing 2024 campaign, Torkelson has gotten off to a great start in 2025, and his long ball Saturday proved to be the game winner. The 25-year-old has a robust 1.049 OPS, seven home runs and 21 RBI through 21 games. The homer and RBI totals lead the team and rank among the top five in the majors as well.
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Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Drives in three runs
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Torkelson went 2-for-4 with one walk, one double and three RBI in Thursday's 6-1 win over the Royals.
Torkelson opened Thursday's scoring with a two-run double in the third inning, and he tallied a third RBI in the eighth frame when his single to center field brought Ryan Kreidler home. Torkelson has logged at least one RBI in five of his last six games and has a 1.035 OPS over that span.
Torkelson went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Twins.
While Detroit couldn't muster much offense as a team, Torkelson still managed to continue his hot stretch. The 25-year-old went deep for the second straight game against Minnesota, and he has four home runs in his last eight contests overall. Torkelson appears to be putting a down 2024 behind him and could be poised for some big power numbers in 2025.
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Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Pops homer Tuesday
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Torkelson went 2-for-4 with a solo homer, a double and two runs scored in Tuesday's win over the Yankees.
Torkelson hit the first of three fourth-inning home runs against Carlos Carrasco to help give the Tigers some breathing room. Torkelson's been enjoying a resurgence early on. It's taken him 11 games to reach three home runs after it took him 44 games in 2024 to reach the same mark, and he's hitting .310/.408/.643 with a 1.051 OPS through 49 plate appearances so far this season.
Torkelson went 1-for-5 with a double and two RBI in Sunday's 4-3 victory over the White Sox.
The Detroit first baseman stepped to the plate in the ninth against Jordan Leasure with the bases juiced and did not disappoint, hitting a walkoff two-run double. Torkelson has been electric to start the season, slashing .324/.439/.618 over his first 41 plate appearances with two homers and six runs and RBI apiece. However, he is also striking out at a 31.7 percent clip and sporting a .474 BABIP, so caution should be taken with the 25-year-old's outlook for the rest of 2025.
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Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Impressive Opening Day performance
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Torkelson went 1-for-1 with a solo home run and four walks Thursday against the Dodgers.
Torkelson had a strong spring and benefited from some injuries on the Detroit roster, a combination that set him up for regular at-bats to begin the season. He took advantage with his first opportunity as he put together solid plate appearances, the most productive of which was a solo home run in the fifth inning. Torkelson has consistently shown patience at the plate in his big-league career, and he should be able to take a step forward in production if he can tap into his raw power more consistently.
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Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Makes Opening Day roster
Rotowire
The Tigers will include Torkelson on their Opening Day roster, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Heading into spring training, Torkelson seemed to be on the outside looking in for a roster spot. However, he had a great Grapefruit League showing with a 1.069 OPS and five home runs. Torkelson looks to be in line for regular at-bats at designated hitter with Kerry Carpenter being needed defensively to cover for the Tigers' outfield injuries.
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Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Continuing push for roster spot
Rotowire
Torkelson is impressing offensively and defensively this spring, and he may see time at DH, first base and in right field as a versatile bench option for the Tigers in 2025, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
A year ago, Torkelson was seen as a fixture at first base for years to come in Detroit, but a rough 2024 campaign has added a bit more uncertainty to the picture. He still seems likely to make the Opening Day roster, though he may have to settle for more of a bench role. Torkelson recently started seeing reps in right field, which gives him more potential versatility as a reserve. The biggest key for the 25-year-old remains his ability to make consistent contact, because if he can, he has the power in his bat to have a big impact.
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Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Could see regular starts at DH
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Torkelson could open the season as the Tigers' regular designated hitter if Kerry Carpenter is used mostly in right field, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
With Parker Meadows (arm) and Matt Vierling (shoulder) slated to open the season on the injured list, Wenceel Perez will shift over to center field and Carpenter might see most of his reps in right field. That opens up the DH spot, and Petzold projects Torkelson to fill it, at least on a short-term basis. Torkelson is coming off a disappointing 2024 season that saw him put up a .669 OPS in 92 regular-season contests, but he's had a nice spring, clubbing four homers in 14 tilts.
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Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: To see time in right
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Torkelson is set to see some time in right field to wrap up spring training, starting with Monday's contest against the Pirates, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Detroit's outfield has been ravaged by injuries, with Parker Meadows (arm) and Matt Vierling (shoulder) both set to miss Opening Day. Wenceel Perez also recently dealt with back tightness, though he managed to return Saturday after missing a few days of action. Even with Perez back in the fold, the Tigers could use some more outfield depth, which is why they're giving Torkelson a try. He has only ever played first base or served as the DH in the majors, though the former Arizona State star did see some time in the outfield during his college days. Any additional positional versatility would help Torkelson's chances of making the Opening Day roster and could give him a bit more fantasy value this season.
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Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Hits first spring home run
Rotowire
Torkelson went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays.
It was the first spring home run for Torkelson, who has gone 3-for-10 in the early going with a robust .900 OPS. The 2020 No. 1 overall pick has struggled with consistency in the majors and has seemingly lost his grip on an everyday role with the Tigers, though he could still make the team as a bench player. Given Torkelson's raw power, he is a potentially intriguing fantasy option if he ever sees regular playing time in 2025.
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Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Could be out of starting job
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Torkelson might be limited to a short-side platoon or reserve role following the Tigers' signing of Gleyber Torres, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Torres is expected to play second base for Detroit, and the feeling seems to be that Colt Keith is likelier to handle first base than third base, which would leave Torkelson without a spot in the lineup at least against right-handed pitching. Torkelson stumbled to a .669 OPS in the 2024 regular season and spent a chunk of the season in the minors. However, the former top prospect cranked 31 homers in 2023 and is still just 25, so he should have some trade value if the Tigers want to go that route.
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Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Homers in win Sunday
Rotowire
Torkelson went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Orioles.
Kerry Carpenter went deep twice, and Torkelson tacked on his ninth long ball of the year to give Detroit possession of the last AL wild-card spot for the moment. Torkelson had a sluggish start to the season, but he's been better lately, batting .273 over his last 10 contests with the one home run and four RBI. The 25-year-old should continue to see regular playing time in the final week of the regular season.
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Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Drives in runs Thursday
Rotowire
Torkelson went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and two RBI in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Rockies.
Torkelson dealt with an illness recently, but he appears to be recovered and ready to keep contributing for the Tigers. Since returning to the majors on Aug. 17, the 25-year-old is batting .253 with 13 RBI in 24 games. Torkelson is still bit of a streaky performer, though he's a legitimate power threat when he's locked in. Expect him to continue receiving regular playing time during the final few weeks of the year.
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Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Back in action Wednesday
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Torkelson (illness) will start at first base and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Rockies.
One of the victims of a bug that has been making its way around the Detroit clubhouse, Torkelson sat out Tuesday's 11-0 win after feeling under the weather following the Tigers' recent road trip. The day off looks to be all Torkelson needed to move past the ailment, as he'll draw back into the starting nine Wednesday. Since getting called up from Triple-A Toledo on Aug. 17, Torkelson has produced a .757 OPS with four home runs, 10 RBI and 14 runs in 22 games.
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Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Scratched from lineup Tuesday
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Torkelson was removed from the Tigers' lineup Tuesday due to an illness, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
After the Tigers' road trip, several players on the team returned home feeling under the weather. Like Torkelson, Dillon Dingler was also scratched from the lineup Tuesday due to an illness. Andy Ibanez is taking over for Torkelson on Tuesday as the first baseman and batting sixth.
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Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Hits key home run
Rotowire
Torkelson went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Angels.
After going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts Tuesday, Torkelson turned the page quickly and helped lead Detroit to the narrow victory. In 11 games since getting recalled from Triple-A Toledo, the 25-year-old is batting .333 with three home runs and eight RBI. Torkelson seems to be settling in after a sluggish start to his third MLB campaign, which ultimately got him sent down in early June.
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Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Goes deep in Monday's win
Rotowire
Torkelson went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run in Monday's 6-3 win over the White Sox.
Torkelson has been in a nice groove since returning to the majors on Aug. 17. Across nine games, the 25-year-old is batting .333 with two home runs and six RBI, including the big effort on his birthday Monday. Torkelson mashed 31 home runs last season, and while he's had an up-and-down 2024 campaign, the talent and upside are still there for him to make a significant fantasy impact.
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Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Tallies four hits Tuesday
Rotowire
Torkelson went 4-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Tuesday's 3-1 loss to the Cubs.
It's a small sample, but Torkelson is now 6-for-10 since getting recalled from Triple-A Toledo over the weekend. Encouragingly, he's also only struck out twice in three games. Making consistent contact has been an issue at times for Torkelson, but the 24-year-old has tremendous power, as evidenced by his 31 home runs last season. He could make a decent fantasy impact down the stretch if he stays locked in at the plate.
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Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Struggles continuing at Triple-A
Rotowire
Torkelson is slashing .229/.347/.375 with five home runs, a 14.8 percent walk rate and a 30.6 percent strikeout rate over 173 plate appearances at Triple-A Toledo since his June 3 demotion.
Though he's now been at Triple-A for a month and a half, Torkelson hasn't provided any evidence that he's made enough progress with his plate approach to return to Detroit. After turning in a .129 ISO in 229 plate appearances with the Tigers prior to his demotion, Torkelson has shown only slightly more pop at against lesser pitching (.146 ISO), and his strikeout rate is actually six points higher than what he posted in the majors. Expect the Tigers to continue to get by with a committee of players at first base until Torkelson starts producing at a level that warrants a call-up.
