Detroit Tigers: Miguel Cabrera wants Spencer Torkelson in the lineup
By Jacob Cox
Detroit Tigers hall of fame first baseman Miguel Cabrera is unsure how much time he will spend fielding grounders this season.
As spring training got underway in Lakeland, Florida, Tigers players and coaches started to meet with members of the media. When Cabrera spoke, he took a different approach to a question.
Miguel Cabrera took a different tone on one question this year. How much does he want to play first base?
— Cody Stavenhagen (@CodyStavenhagen) March 13, 2022
“I don’t know because we want Torkelson in the lineup.”
Obviously, “in the lineup” could simply mean that Spencer Torkelson is in the batting order, but as Cabrera gets older, his time in the field lessens. Seeing the Tigers’ new wave of talent seems to be something Cabrera wants to see.
Detroit Tigers veteran Miguel Cabrera wants to see Spencer Torkelson in 2022.
Torkelson has shown what he can do when he is in the batting order at every level he has played at. During his freshman season at Arizona State University, in 55 games, he hit 25 home runs and had a .320 batting average. Last season in the Tigers farm system ranging from high-A ball to Triple-A, Torkelson had a total of 431 at-bats with 115 hits, 30 home runs, and a .552 slugging percentage.
Torkelson should make the Detroit Tigers opening day roster if he has good at-bats during the spring training games. He can do damage at the big league level, and the team will need his bat in the lineup.
As for the first base question, Spencer is a lot younger and more athletic than Cabrera, and that is just stating the obvious. With that being said, his body can go through the movements needed at the position on an everyday basis where Cabrera isn’t able to anymore.
The Tigers do have another option at first base, though. Last season we saw Johnathan Schoop play some first base when Cabrera was getting an off day. But if Torkelson is ready to be on the team on opening day, Schoop moving over to second base makes the Tigers lineup and defense that much better.
Torkelson was a non-roster invitee to spring training in Lakeland. He was joined by Riley Greene and others who were non-roster invitees.
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The Tigers’ spring training games get underway on Friday, March 18th, as they will take on the Philadelphia Phillies.