Detroit Tigers: Spencer Torkelson is the power-filled options for first overall
By Tyler Kotila
The Detroit Tigers have the first overall selection in this summer’s 2020 First-Year Amateur Player Draft and Spencer Torkelson should be considered.
The exact specifications, time, and date of the 2020 First-Year Amateur Player Draft are unknown, but the Detroit Tigers will have the first overall selection. It seems that the product of Vanderbilt University, Austin Martin, is the player to take first overall, but this may not be the case.
The power threat that is Spencer Torkelson, is worth more than a look from the Tigers. Torkelson plays for the Arizona State University Sun Devils. In the last three years he has put on an absolute clinic in terms of his power and that would have been shown if the NCAA season was played.
The only downside to drafting Torkelson is the fact that he is a first baseman who could be shifted to the outfield on a team that has a plethora of up and coming outfield prospects and Miguel Cabrera rotting time away at first base. But nonetheless, Torkelson needs to be considered.
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Getting down to business, Torkelson is a twenty-year-old first baseman with the ability to play some right field when needed.
He stands 6-foot-2, 215-pounds for the Sun Devils, while swinging the bat from the right side of the plate, and throwing right-handed as well.
Taking a look at the 17 games that Torkelson did get a chance to play in during the 2020 NCAA season, he would hit .340/.598/.780 with six home runs and 11 RBI for the Sun Devils.
He may not have gotten to show the true value of his power tool, but the prior two seasons did that.
Back when Torkelson burst onto the scene with the Sun Devils, he would hit .320/.440/.743 with 25 home runs and 53 RBI as a freshman.
He would bounce back as a sophomore, hitting .351/.446/.707 with 23 home runs and 66 RBI for the Sun Devils. However, as mentioned above he was not able to show the power tool again since the season was cancelled. He was on pace for right around that 23 home run mark.
Looking at a valuation of Torkelson, the Tigers would be getting a power-hitting right-hander who has a ton of raw power and good discipline in the box. He has increased his potential in the field as well, showing development at first base and in the outfield.
Some scouts have made preliminary comparisons to New York Mets youngster Pete Alonso, saying that Torkelson has the power that could grade out similarly. He is a safe draft choice for the Tigers and should be considered with the first overall selection this summer.
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The Detroit Tigers should stick to the “Vandy Plan” by drafting Austin Martin, but there is no reason why the organization should not consider taking Spencer Torkelson.