Detroit Tigers: Do not worry about Spencer Torkelson’s struggles
By Tyler Kotila
In Lakeland, Florida, the first overall selection of the 2020 MLB First-Year Amateur Draft is getting work in for the Detroit Tigers. While Spencer Torkelson is in big-league camp and working on his development around big-league talent, the struggle has been quite real.
Even being a first overall selection during the 2020 draft, Torkelson has not quite been a standout name at Detroit Tigers camp in Lakeland during Spring Training. To be quite frank, Torkelson’s stats are horrific.
Torkelson has not shown that he is able to do much in the batters’ box for the Tigers, which might have fans freaking out thinking that the organization made a bad pick or are rushing things. However, Torkelson’s struggles should not worry fans whatsoever.
It is so early; making these exclamations or worrying about Torkelson this early is just a terrible move by the Tigers faithful. Fans need to recognize how ar Torkelson is from pulling on the big-league jersey on a daily basis; he’s still a prospect and still a minor-leaguer.
Detroit Tigers fans do not need to worry about Spencer Torkelson’s Spring Training struggles.
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When the Tigers drafted Torkelson with the first overall selection, they immediately moved him from first base over to third base.
Since then, Torkelson has been working to shift across the infield; he is an athletic body who has adjusted easily and created some versatility.
He was given a spot at big-league Spring Training in 2021 and has since struggled to do anything at the plate when given at-bats.
He has played in seven games for the Tigers in Spring Training this year, where he has totaled 16 plate appearances.
In 13 at-bats, Torkelson has not registered a hit, has been walked three times and has been punched out eight times by opposing pitchers. His slash line currently reads .000/.188/.000, which is terrible, to say the very least.
While Torkelson struggling is the last thing that Tigers fans want to see, there should be no worrying. Torkelson has plenty of time to figure things out and settle in as the hitter that fans are expecting him to be.
Plus, it’s Spring Training; there have been times where all-star hitters struggle to get on base and register hits during Spring Training but will have phenomenal seasons. While Torkelson will be in the minors, the struggles in the big league camp are still valuable for him as he continues developing.
If Torkelson can continue to better his tools all around and start hitting at the big league level, fans will have more to be excited about. When he does get to the big leagues, Torkelson will bring a hit-tool that will support the middle of the Tigers lineup.
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So while his 2021 Spring Training failures may worry some, fans need to relax and realize that he will be outstanding in the near-ish future.