According to the Associated Press on Wednesday, the Detroit Tigers have selected corner infielder Spencer Torkelson of Petaluma, California first overall in the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft. The product of Arizona State University played primarily first base this season in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, but the Tigers reportedly like Torkelson more at third base.
The 2019 NCAA Baseball season was cut short due to coronavirus. As a result, Torkelson only played 17 games. In 50 at bats and 82 plate appearances, Torkelson hit the baseball with power and determination. He batted .340 with six home runs and 11 runs batted in during his time in the Pac12 Conference. Torkelson also scored 24 runs, had 17 hits, four doubles, two stolen bases, 31 walks, 39 total bases, an on base percentage of .598, and a slugging percentage of .780.
There is a possibility that Torkelson could be the starting third baseman if there is actually a Major League Baseball season in 2020. The Tigers signed first baseman C.J. Cron from the Minnesota Twins to a one-year contract worth $6.1 million four days before Christmas, and it appears future hall of farmer Miguel Cabrera will make the full-time transition to designated hitter.
Even though he is a rookie, Torkelson could be ready to make the leap right to the Majors and by-pass the Tigers minor-league system altogether. One reason is that Torkelson would be an upgrade at third base right now, as Jeimer Candelario struggled mightily in 2019 at third base. In 2019, Candelario only batted .203, with eight home runs and 32 runs batted in.
Torkelson finished his university career with 54 home runs over three seasons with the Sun Devils. That is second all-time in Sun Devils history, and only four fewer than Bob Horner of Junction City, Kansas, who had 58 home runs.
