With the June draft looming, coupled with the new five round draft format, the Detroit Tigers are facing monumental pressure with the first overall pick. For more implications of the five round system, click this link.
The Tigers organization is in the middle of a major reconstruction of their roster with their sights set on the long-term future. Having drafted Matt Manning in 2016 and Casey Mize in 2018 in the first round of each respective draft, they may set their focus on positional players. With that in mind, Detroit should draft ASU 1B Spencer Torkelson 1st overall in 2020.
A 6'2 athletic phenom, Torkelson offers a team an unbelievable premium in the power-hitting category. Having played 17 games for Arizona State in 2020 (the season being cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic), he posted otherworldly numbers, posting a slash line of 0.340/0.598/0.780 with six homers in the Pac-12. He also broke Barry Bonds' freshman home run record with 25 in 2018. Any team that drafts Torkelson would be getting a player that would have an instant and noticeable impact.
Beyond the statistics, evaluators and executives note a significant level of maturity and developed hitting skills, which some may say is rare for a prospect. Torkelson has a quick, compact swing as a right-handed hitter with doubles-plus power. Jim Callis of MLB.com cites his bat control and patience as unique traits for a young player and makes him stand out over other position players in the draft, such as Vanderbilt University product Austin Martin. While some argue that Martin can play multiple positions (third base and centerfield) and offers value in that regard, Torkelson's pure power draws comparisons of former White Sox great and Cooperstown alumni Frank Thomas.
I personally had a chance to see Torkelson firsthand down on the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League in the summer of 2018 as a member of the Chatham Anglers. The power that talent evaluators and scouts rave about is real. His plate discipline, in my opinion, is one of the elements of his game that is underrated.
Having drafted two blue chip pitching prospects in Mize and Manning, the Detroit Tigers should shift their focus to addressing the need for offensive talent. Spencer Torkelson is the answer.
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