Detroit Tigers DH Spencer Torkelson went 2-for-4 with a double, a run, three RBI, and a walk in a 6-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday. Torkelson plated the first runs of the game with a two-run double in the bottom of the third inning and later came back to add an RBI single in the eighth inning. Torkelson is off to a good start in 2025, hitting .286 with six homers, six doubles, 15 runs, 16 RBI, and a stolen base across 70 at-bats. He remains a solid corner infielder in all fantasy leagues.
Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson has been a nice surprise for this offense early in the season. Torkelson continued his success at the plate during Saturday's game against the Minnesota Twins. The 25-year-old smacked a two-run home run off Kody Funderburk in the sixth inning to help extend the lead. Torkelson would finish his day 2-for-3 with a homer, three RBI, and two runs scored in the victory. He's slashing .314/.419/.647 with four home runs and 10 RBI this season. He's red-hot right now so fantasy managers should take advantage of it while they can.
Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson was struggling at the plate, but he came up clutch for his team during this game. Torkelson was hitless with one strikeout until he came up in the ninth inning. He smacked a two-RBI double to help give his team the lead in the final frame. It seemed like coming into this season that the Tigers were nearly ready to give up on the former first-overall pick. So far, Torkelson is slashing .324/.439/.618 with two homers and six RBI in the first nine games. He'll likely continue to pick up steam on the waiver wire, assuming his hot streak at the plate continues.
Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson hit a 423-foot laser to left field off of Alex Vesia in the seventh inning of the Tigers' 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Thursday's season opener. It was an excellent night for Torkelson, as he got on base in all five plate appearances and went 1-for-1 with four walks, two runs scored, and one RBI. Torkelson spent some time in Triple-A last season working on cutting down his strikeout percentage and getting on base more, so this is exactly what the Tigers and fantasy managers wanted to see to begin his 2025 campaign. He's off to a good start and will look to continue his success Friday and Saturday as the Tigers look to win a few games versus the Dodgers before heading to Seattle early next week.
Detroit Tigers first baseman/designated hitter Spencer Torkelson, the former No. 1 overall pick, has made the team's Opening Day roster, sources tell the Detroit Free Press' Evan Petzold. Torkelson, who has so far been a disappointment for the Tigers despite hitting 31 homers and driving in 94 runs in 2023, will open the 2025 season on the big-league roster after slashing .340/.389/.680 with a 1.07 OPS, two doubles, five home runs, 11 RBI and a stolen base in 19 Grapefruit League games. Not only is the 25-year-old right-handed power bat on the Opening Day roster, but he figures to open the season as Detroit's primary designated hitter with Kerry Carpenter being needed full time in the outfield. After an impressive 2023 campaign, Torkelson's hard-hit numbers plunged and his strikeout rate went back up in 2024. The power is there, but he will need to perform and make more contact in order to keep regular playing time.
Spencer Torkelson In Position To Make Opening Day Roster
Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson has continued to impress in spring training and has put himself in a good position to make the Opening Day roster. Torkelson has been one of the most consistent bats in the Detroit lineup during camp, as he has posted a strong .302/.364/.581 slash line with four home runs. He held a 4:10 BB:K and swiped one bag. In addition to his improving bat, Torkelson has begun to see time in right field, which has only improved his chances of making the Opening Day roster. Throughout the start of his professional career, Torkelson has exclusively only played at first base. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, as he could open the season as a depth option on the roster. Last season, he posted an underwhelming .219/.295/.374 line with 10 home runs. If he continues to impress, he could eventually carve out time as first base behind Colt Keith, at right field, or even as a designated hitter. He is worth taking as a late-round flier in AL-only formats.
The Detroit Free Press' Evan Petzold writes that first baseman Spencer Torkelson could see regular at-bats this year at designated hitter. The Tigers could be rotating players around early in the year in the outfield with both Parker Meadows (arm) and Matt Vierling (shoulder) injured, which could mean more looks for Torkelson at DH if Kerry Carpenter is needed more in the outfield. The former No. 1 overall pick in 2020 out of Arizona State University hasn't lived up to his draft stock to this point, even after clubbing a career-high 31 long balls and driving in 94 runs in his second season in 2023. The 25-year-old right-handed slugger took a step back last year, though, posting a .669 OPS with only 10 home runs in 92 games played. However, he's hitting .286 (10-for-35) with four homers and nine RBI in 14 spring training games and could be a sneaky late-round flier for some power in deeper fantasy leagues.
Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson had a big day at the plate on Friday in the Grapefruit League win over the Baltimore Orioles, going 3-for-3 with two solo home runs. The former first overall pick in 2020 out of Arizona State University is now hitting .350 (7-for-20) with three home runs, four RBI, one steal and four runs scored in eight spring training games this year as he vies for playing time in 2025 in Detroit. The 25-year-old right-handed power bat clubbed 31 home runs and drove in 94 runs in 2023, but he slashed just .219/.295/.374 with a .669 OPS, 10 home runs and 37 RBI in 92 games for the Tigers last year and looks to be the odd-man out as Opening Day approaches this year. However, Torkelson is still young and could force his way into regular playing time, either at first or DH, if he can continue making consistent contact given the raw power he possesses.
The Detroit Tigers say they haven't given up on first baseman Spencer Torkelson despite trade speculation and the fact that he's posted a disappointing .693 career OPS in 1,469 MLB plate appearances. The Athletic's Cody Stavenhagen writes that Torkelson's path to a roster spot in 2025 as a right-handed first baseman/designated hitter is difficult, and it might take an injury for him to have a shot. At the very least, he'll be competing with Justyn-Henry Malloy in spring training. Stavenhagen thinks the Tigers would rather have Torkelson around at Triple-A Toledo as an insurance policy than trade him away for nothing. The 25-year-old former first overall pick has a tougher path to playing time in Motown this year after the Tigers signed second baseman Gleyber Torres, which will push Colt Keith to first base. Torkelson had a .669 OPS last year and was demoted to the minors.
According to Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated, the New York Mets have shown interest in trading for Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson. The former No.1 pick in the 2020 MLB Draft had a disappointing campaign last summer and could be without a role in the starting lineup this season. In 2024, Torkelson posted an underwhelming .219/.295/.374 line with just 10 home runs. Earlier this offseason, the Tigers acquired second baseman Gleyber Torres and plan to move Colt Keith to first base. However, in 2023, the Arizona State product flashed some upside as he held a .233/.313/.446 line with 31 home runs. With Torkelson not having a defined role for the upcoming season, it could make him easier to acquire if the Mets are unable to resign Pete Alonso. The Mets might also acquire Torkelson to provide some depth at first base, as Mark Vientos will likely cover that position in the short term, which will leave Brett Baty, Luisangel Acuna, and Ronny Mauricio to share time at the hot corner.
Spencer Torkelson
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Tigers
