Everyone thought Spencer Torkelson had finally blossomed into a big-league hitter last season.
The Tigers’ first baseman and No. 1 overall pick of the 2020 draft only hit .233 but had 31 home runs and 94 RBI in a lineup where he was the only consistent power threat.
That was after Torkelson struggled as a rookie in 2022 and was sent to the minors during the season. But with his 2023 production, he looked to be on track to achieve the potential indicated by his draft position.
Then came this season.
He continued to falter as far as batting average was concerned, but there was also no power. Torkelson had yet to hit a ball over the fence.
That drought ended on Sunday. His first homer of the season came during the ninth inning in the Tigers’ 9-3 loss to the Houston Astros in Detroit.
With the monkey finally off Torkelson’s back, he followed that up on Monday night with a tape-measure blast of an estimated 446 feet that came in the eighth inning and gave Detroit a 6-5 win over the Miami Marlins.
Not only has Torkelson’s power returned but he has been hitting well, with a .310 average (9-for-29) in his last eight games. Despite Torkelson’s lack of power for most of the season, he leads the American League with 13 doubles.
Now, it begs the question: Is what we have witnessed recently the real Torkelson? Or is it just a tantalizing stretch for a player who will become one of those sobering examples of a top draft pick who never quite panned out?
Only time will tell.
