Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson (illness) has been scratched from the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Colorado Rockies. Torkelson is one of a few players that are battling a minor illness on the Tigers roster. This isn't something that should sideline Torkelson for more than a few days. In his place, Andy Ibanez will cover first base and bat sixth versus right-hander Bradley Blalock. Ibanez has quietly put together a decent season as a reserve player. He's hitting .259 with five home runs and 30 RBI in 84 games. He figures to get more playing time while the Tigers are down a few players.
Spencer Torkelson Racks Up Three Hits, Homers On Monday
Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson had three hits in his team's 6-3 win against the Chicago White Sox on Monday. Torkelson officially went 3-for-5 with a double, a homer, and three RBI. His three-run home run was critical, as it came in the seventh inning and gave the Tigers the lead late. The former first overall pick in the 2020 MLB draft has had an underwhelming season at the plate, slashing .220/.286/.376 with only six homers in 63 games (245 at-bats). Torkelson is starting to heat up at the plate, hitting two home runs and logging six RBI over his last five games. Fantasy managers can take a chance on Torkelson (rostered in 40% in Yahoo leagues) due to his power upside.
Spencer Torkelson Hitting Well Since Return To Majors
Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson had a solid day at the plate again on Thursday, going 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and a walk. Torkelson was the only Tiger to get to Cubs starter Justin Steele, homering off him in the seventh inning to put Detroit on the board. Since returning to the majors on August 17, Torkelson has gone 7-for-17 (.412) with three runs scored, a homer, and two RBI. He has also walked three times and only struck out three times, which was the main issue for the 24-year-old earlier in the season. The talent is there for Tork, who blasted 31 homers last season as a sophomore, and he can certainly be useful down the stretch in fantasy if he heats up. It may be worth grabbing him if first base is a weakness or even if you have a free spot to play with.
The Detroit Tigers recalled first baseman Spencer Torkelson, the first overall pick in 2020, from Triple-A Toledo on Saturday, according to multiple sources who were not at liberty to discuss roster moves publicly. Torkelson is starting at first base and batting sixth on Saturday at Comerica Park against New York Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon. Torkelson hit .239 with 11 home runs and a .799 OPS in 58 games for the Mud Hens. The 24-year-old right-handed power hitter hasn't played for the Tigers since June 1. In a corresponding move, the Tigers optioned Bligh Madris, their primary first baseman against right-handers, to Toledo. While there's no questions about Torkelson's raw power, he posted a 30.9% strikeout rate in his 58 games for Toledo, striking out 85 times in 275 plate appearances. However, he did show improvement against fastballs.
Spencer Torkelson Hits Two Homers In Triple-A Game
Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson went 2-for-4 with two home runs and seven RBI for Triple-A Toledo on Sunday, July 28. After a dreadful start to the season, the former first-overall pick was demoted in early June. Since then, he's slashing .246/.365/.431 with seven doubles, eight homers, 32 RBI and 31:62 BB/SO. Recently, he's been playing rather well. In nine game since the All-Star Break, he's gone 9-for-32 (.281 AVG) with a double, three homers, and 10 RBI. If he keeps this up, he'll almost certainly be recalled to the big-league roster. Overall, Torkelson's potential is undeniable. Last season, he mashed 34 doubles and 31 homers for the Tigers.
The Detroit Tigers optioned first baseman Spencer Torkelson to Triple-A Toledo on Sunday. Justyn-Henry Malloy will be promoted to the big league roster in a corresponding move. The No. 1 overall pick of the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft was hitting .201/.226/.330 with four homers and 18 RBI over 209 at-bats. Torkelson's .597 OPS ranked 149th among qualified players and struck out in 11 of his last 21 at-bats. The 24-year-old still has time to live up to his potential, but Sunday's demotion plummets what little fantasy value Torkelson had. He's safe to drop in redraft leagues and buy low in dynasty formats.
Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson is not in the team's starting lineup on Saturday versus the visiting Toronto Blue Jays. Mark Canha will get the start at first base for Detroit and will bat third in the lineup against Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios. Torkelson is due for a day off after going hitless in 16 at-bats in his last five games to drop his season line to .207/.279/.330. The former first overall pick in 2020 out of Arizona State also has homered just three times in 188 at-bats so far this year while driving in 17 and scoring 21 runs for the Tigers. In the month of May, he's gone 15-for-77 (.195) with all three of his homers, six RBI and 18 strikeouts in 84 plate appearances over 21 games. Canha does have a solo homer in seven career at-bats against Berrios and could be a DFS sleeper despite his .226 average (37-for-164) in 2024.
Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson swatted his first home run of the season on Mother's Day and followed up with his second dinger in Monday's 6-5 win over the Miami Marlins. Despite the Tiger's winning record, it's been a tough go for the 24-year-old first basemen this season, sporting a .225 batting average with only two home runs and 16 RBI. With a career batting average of .222, don't expect too much improvement in that department during the season, but after slugging 31 homers in 2023, one can only hope the last two days mean he finally found his power stroke and can keep it up moving forward. Torkelson has a great outlook over the next two days, with southpaws Ryan Weathers (4.54 ERA) and Trevor Rogers (6.57 ERA) toeing the rubber.
Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson is getting his first day off of the season on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Torkelson made it 23 games before getting his first day of rest in 2024, and he's currently hitting .231/.311/.319 with a league-leading eight doubles, no home runs, 10 RBI and 10 runs scored in 104 plate appearances. Mark Canha is getting the start at first base and will hit third for the Tigers, while Riley Greene is the designated hitter and batting leadoff against Rays right-hander Ryan Pepiot. It's pretty concerning that Torkelson, the former first overall pick in 2020 out of Arizona State, has yet to clear the bases so far this year. Neither Canha nor Greene have faced Pepiot in their careers.
Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson went 0-for-2 with a walk in Thursday's Grapefruit League action against the New York Yankees. The former first overall pick is now hitting a putrid .115 with three RBI and a run scored over his first 26 at-bats. The 24-year-old has had an up-and-down career thus far, but he finished strong in 2023 and provided plenty of power with 31 homers and 94 RBI to go along with a .233 batting average. Torkelson has been a popular sleeper this offseason with the expectation that he take another step forward in 2024, but with an ADP of 118, managers should continue to keep an eye on the slugger before making a big commitment that could go either way. Regardless, even if he struggles in the batting average department, the power should be able to help managers.
Spencer Torkelson
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Tigers
