Parker Meadows and Matt Vierling will both be starting the season on the Tigers’ injured list, while Wenceel Perez is also a bit of a question mark after he received a cortisone shot to deal with a lingering back problem. With so many absences already in the Detroit outfield, the team is getting creative in looking for answers, as manager A.J. Hinch told reporters (including the Detroit Free Press’ Jeff Seidel) that Spencer Torkelson has been getting in some outfield work, and will play right field in the Tigers’ game with the Pirates on Monday.
Hinch made it clear that Torkelson will get “just a sprinkle” of time in right field and “you’re not going to see him out there routinely….but we’d like it to be part of the availability in game work.” Even if the Tigers still view Torkelson as a first base/DH candidate, adding some versatility obviously can’t hurt his overall resume, plus it presents another avenue to get his bat into the lineup.
Torkelson played some outfield during his summer league days and at college at Arizona State, but since being selected first overall in the 2020 draft, Torkelson has played only third and first base as a professional. Nevertheless, Torkelson is “excited for an opportunity” in a new role, and is happy to help the team as much as possible: “We had really key players kind of go down this spring, and…in the time being, we got to find ways to compete and win, and I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Despite his top-prospect status, Torkelson has yet to really get going at the MLB level, as he followed up a promising 2023 campaign with a borderline disastrous 2024. Torkelson hit only .219/.295/.374 over 381 plate appearances, though his offense did pick up after he returned to the Tigers following a Triple-A stint of over two and a half months. After Detroit signed Gleyber Torres this winter and subsequently moved Colt Keith from second to first base, there was speculation that Torkelson might even be a trade chip, as the Tigers seemed to be squeezing him into a part-time DH role at best.
However, Torkelson has been on a tear at the plate this spring, perhaps helping his chances at a more regular turn in a DH role. Torkelson’s case for playing time has been helped by the fact that he is one of relatively few right-handed hitters within a Tigers lineup that tilts heavily to the left, plus the outfield injuries could mean that Kerry Carpenter gets more work in right field than at DH. Torkelson himself now could be considered for the occasional cameo in right field as situations warrant.
It now seems possible we could get the unlikely combination of Torkelson in right field and Javier Baez in center field at some point during a game, which speaks to the depth issues that have been caused by this sudden spate of outfield injuries. Chances are that Detroit will simply lean more on utilitymen Andy Ibanez or Zach McKinstry to fill holes while Meadows and Vierling are out, but finding more versatility on the bench (even from unexpected sources) is now a must
We are quick to label these guys but it takes certain players longer than others, He is still young, I’m hoping he can still live up to the billing.
Exactly, and there is a long list of former big league players that seemed to be toast only to later pan out. Torkelson can look at guys like Alex Gordan and Phil Nevin who went from being top draft picks to apparent busts to studs.
It would be cool if that happens with Tork with the Tigers and not some other team.
Houston found that out with JD Martinez.
He’s got the right attitude. He’s at least trying to help the team and give himself more chances to get his bat in the lineup.
This is what year 3 of the breakout propaganda with him and Jordan Walker? Jasson Dominguez will soon also join the list of over hyped role players. It’s over friendo he will never be a star. Should still make some pretty good money in a 10-12 year career if the power plays.
I hope l that’s the case with Jo Adell and Mickey Moniak. Jo still has the potential to be a stud.
If he ever gets it, I can see Jo hitting 40 HRs a year batting . 270 and a. 360 OBA
Might as well.
Does this mean kcarp will be fulltime OF even vs lefties?
Carp was asking to play more against left handers so it certainly seems like a good possibility. Hinch said they were considering it.
José Alvarado is throwing absolute gas against the Tigs in ST today. Almost every pitch has been over 100 mph.
Wow – 1 IP, 3 K’s: Greene, Torres and Carpenter
Hopefully this works but Tork should play LF so the Tigers can play Greene in CF and Carpenter in RF to maximize hitting. Seems like Hinch is making it mandatory for every position player to be proficient at 3 positions
I hope Tork makes everyone eat their words and forces Colt back to second base. Torres can learn another position too or DH, but if we have that problem we are going to have a good season! It would be an incredible feeling if we have to platoon really good players because everyone is playing well. That will help cover for the injuries that will happen during the season. We could well have the best team in baseball by October if everyone reaches their potential.I’ve been a Tiger fan for over 60 years, and this club has the potential to be the best team of them all if everything goes right. Granted it’s a big ask, but anything is possible!
Torres is only here for this season anyway. So regardless, either Keith or Jung will be back at 2B next year. McGonigle might be close by then too.
Tigers are loaded w/prospect IFs; a few OFs & Ps as well.
It’s apparent that Torkleson’s biggest issue to overcome is in making adjustments, the same with Jo Adell. I love seeing Post-Hype prospects finally becoming good to great players. Everyone falls in love with the hot new thing (Top-Level Prospects). You now get all of these rating numbers from 20 to 80 for baseball tools that suits and scouts use for determining their draft and trade decisions, but those are only physical tools. There are no baseball tool categories for mental acuity or the ability to make adjustments.
The latter is the risk you take in drafting. Will the prospect ever become a contributing major leaguer? I’m rooting for Tork!
Vierling is a huge loss. They didn’t need a over priced third basemen with him in the line up. If Tork is not sharing time at third, then I believe right field could be a real disaster with him there. Sure give him some time out there, but that is a tricky field to play.
At least his play at first might give him some assistance in right field with those crazy balls that go out there. I was hoping he’d be at third with Vierling down. Kriedler, or Baez might not hit enough there.. If Tork could platoon with Carp in right it would solve a lot of problems.
The Tigers have no shortage of platoon guys so they’ll mix and match. My worry with Tork in right is his speed and arm. If you can’t throw a dart to second base it’s triple city for the other teams on balls they hit to the corner.
Tork batting is hard to watch most of the time. For all of his Torkbombs he hit in 2023, he is probably the least frightening batter for opposing pitchers to face in a clutch situation. He is 2 for 24 batting with the bases loaded since getting promoted ( no extra base hits and 10 strikeouts). It appears to be an opportunity to coach him, but I wonder if he is coachable.
Think of what you just said. An average hitter would expect to be 6 or 7 for 24 in any situation, so you are essentially calling him a deadbeat because 4 or 5 ABs didn’t work out
I’m not really calling him a deadbeat. I am wondering if he puts too much pressure on himself in those types of situations. Like you said yourself, if he just produced to his average at-bat he would have four more hits and at least one extra base hits.
We get it, he was 1/1 that is why they are going to great lengths to treat him with kid gloves and are trying to shoehorn him somewhere, anywhere. Torkelson should be honing his craft in the minor leagues.
With today’s analytics, I would think that the number one overall pick in the draft would be a sure thing! Mize and Torkelson shouldn’t be having all these problems adjusting if they were so much better than their peers in college. Apparently they weren’t!
Go talk to Mickey Moniak and Royce Lewis. Both are #1 overall picks, but hardly superstars.
You can have all the analytics you want but you are still drafting 18-22 year olds, so many variables.
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Don’t expect Meadows or Vierling back before July, if at all. I think Hinch is kind of signaling that.
It was mentioned that Javy Baez is going to get some CF time.
Why?
Guess.
The Tiger’s #1 and #2 CF options are not going to be playing for a while.
Greene is too valuable to risk injuring in CF.
Perez might not hit enough. Ditto, McKinstry. Kreidler and Ja Jones might not hit either.
#2 prospect Max Clark probably starts in Erie. If he rakes and gets to Toledo by June, maybe he comes to the rescue in August.
Hinch is looking for options.
Billy Butler Jr is too heavy.
Bustelson.
I love Tork, but he’s going to make an oak tree look like Al Kaline.
“Just a sprinkle” of Tork in RF, a little dab, just a pinch, a dusting of Tork, trace elements of Tork in RF.