SPENCER TORKELSON

This will be the first meaningful offseason for the Detroit Tigers in half a decade, as the team hopes to take another leap from surprisingly competitive to legitimate playoff contender.

DETROIT -- If you look back at some of the early-spring roster and lineup projections from 2021, it’s no secret that we got a lot of stuff wrong. Jonathan Schoop was the regular first baseman, a position he had never played before in his career. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)Mike Mulholland | MLive.comSecond baseJonathan Schoop (60 percent)Isaac Paredes (30 percent)Others (10 percent)Once Torkelson is up, Schoop will shift to second. Detroit Tigers' Jeimer Candelario celebrates after hitting an RBI-double to drive in Miguel Cabrera against the Kansas City Royals during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Detroit. Detroit Tigers' Derek Hill reacts to his one-run triple against the Milwaukee Brewers in the fifth inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021.

For as critical as this offseason is for the Detroit Tigers, there’s an impressive degree of clarity about what we can expect to happen. Riley Greene prepares for batting practice at the Detroit Tigers facility in Lakeland, Fla., on February 24, 2021. Are the Tigers going all-in on Tork and Greene or will there be a Plan B? Detroit Tigers pitcher Casey Mize (12) adjusts his sleeve during their MLB game against the Los Angeles Angels at Comerica Park in Detroit, on Tuesday, August 17, 2021. The Tigers plan to bolster the pitching ranks with one, two or maybe even three free-agent starters.

The Tigers confirmed Wednesday that the two top prospects will play in the Arizona Fall League. An Opening Day roster spot won’t be won or lost in a few weeks worth of exhibition games in front of empty stadiums in Arizona. If the Tigers had wanted to avoid such a trap, they could have simply left them in Double-A Erie. * The Tigers have openings or potential openings at first base (Tork’s position) and the outfield (Greene’s territory). Avila said both players will be in the big leagues in the “not-too-distant future.” That doesn’t necessarily mean Opening Day, but Avila didn’t slam the door on the idea.

A surprisingly enjoyable Detroit Tigers season has come to an end, and between the development of the current players and several emerging prospects, the team could be competitive next year.

Just when we thought maybe the Detroit Tigers’ second-half magic had started to run out, they mounted two comebacks to win a series against the best team in the American League.

We’re giving away four tickets to the Toledo Mud Hens game on Oct. 1, in Toledo at Fifth Third Field.

SMCC graduate Bryce Windham is hitting .400 in August for the South Bend Cubs.

The Tigers wanted Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene and Ryan Kreidler to be a bit uncomfortable. That sounds harsh, but it’s a core tenet of minor-league development: Keep putting challenges in front your of prospects. It’s not lost on Torkelson and Greene that they are now -- quite literally -- just down the road from Detroit. Hinch said the Tigers debated the promotion on Sunday and general manager Al Avila ultimately decided to pull the trigger. “Now comes the pressure with being one step away from the best level in the world.

What if both players maintain their production in the final six weeks of the season at Toledo? First, remember that Tork and Greene are not just ahead of schedule right now, they’re wildly ahead of schedule. Tork and Greene may go on to phenomenal Major League careers, but they will almost certainly face adversity early in their tenures. It’s hugely unrealistic to expect Greene or Torkelson to be a star -- or even a league-average player -- from Day 1. It makes far more sense to see Tork and Greene as potential fill-ins during the 2022 season -- to be called up based on team need and their own performance.

The Detroit Tigers have promoted top prospects Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene to Triple-A after both enjoyed a monster series over the weekend.

DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers top position prospects are getting one step closer to Detroit. The Tigers announced today that first baseman/third baseman Spencer Torkelson, outfielder Riley Greene and shortstop Ryan Kriedler have been promoted to Triple-A Toledo from Double-A Erie. After beginning the season at Class A (advanced) West Michigan, he was promoted to Erie two months ago. Torkelson and Greene are typically ranked among the top 20 prospects in all of baseball. But after today’s promotion, the question is not if Greene and Torkelson will land in Detroit in 2022, but when?

Spencer Torkelson, the top prospect in the Detroit Tigers’ organization, just enjoyed what has to be one of the greatest days in minor league baseball history.

First, the Detroit Tigers want to give him a chance to catch his breath. Overall, in three short stints and one lengthy stretch with the big-league club, Short has hit .145 with a .563 OPS in 134 plate appearances. “I love Zack and I think he’s going to be a nice player for us,” Hinch said. pic.twitter.com/OIk5de81QY — Detroit Tigers (@tigers) August 10, 2021After this season, the future is less certain. “I do think he has the make-up to overcome this little bump in the road,” Hinch said of Short.

Now that the Detroit Tigers have resigned Jonathan Schoop, have you started to imagine what next year’s lineup could look like if they add a free agent shortstop and call up their two top prospects?

The Detroit Tigers have four players in Baseball America’s newest ranking of the game’s top 100 prospects. Prep pitcher Jackson Jobe, selected by the Tigers with the No. “Jobe’s fastball/slider combo piled up strikeouts and eye-popping spin rates last summer and this spring,” Baseball America said. “He joins a Tigers’ pitching group that has recently shown it can produce big league starters.”The other three Tigers in the listing are infielder Spencer Torkelson (6th), outfielder Riley Greene (7th) and right-handed pitcher Matt Manning (67th). Torkelson has held steady since January, when he was ranked No.

We’ve reached the unofficial midway point in the Detroit Tigers’ season, and even though an otherwise promising couple of months were derailed by an ugly weekend in Minnesota, prospects and draft picks are the talk of the town.

For the 22nd time, the best young players in the game will descend on Coors Field in Denver for the annual SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. Watch the MLB All-Star Weekend on FuboTV (7-day free trial)This event has seen the likes of future all-stars such as Alfonso Soriano (1999), Miguel Cabrera (2001, 2002), Clayton Kershaw (2007), Mike Trout (2010) and many more provide thrilling previews of what was to come in the Futures Game. Some of the big names to watch out for include a stacked American League squad. Max Meyer (Miami Marlins), Matthew Liberatore (St. Louis Cardinals), Quinn Priester (Pittsburgh Pirates) and Nick Lodolo (Cincinnati Reds) are all in the MLB’s Top-50 Prospects list. What: SiriusXM MLB All-Star Futures GameWho: American League vs. National LeagueWhen: Sunday, July 11Time: 3:00 p.m.

The Detroit Tigers are 29-22 since May 8, which is the best two-month stretch (by far) since 2016. Although it would be hard, almost impossible, to envision a scenario in which the Tigers would trade Torkelson, let’s address it as a hypothetical. Torkelson is playing some third base now, but will probably end up as a first baseman in the big leagues. If Torkelson just hits well in the big leagues, he will have a nice career like C.J. So maybe the Tigers would be tempted to listen if a team offered a package of players for Torkelson.

Top prospects Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene will represent the Detroit Tigers at the All-Star Futures Game in Denver on July 11. The futures game is a seven-inning exhibition that takes place as part of the week’s All-Star festivities. Rogers made his MLB debut later in 2019, Paredes came to the big leagues in 2020 and Manning debuted this month. Torkelson and Greene are rated the Tigers’ first- and second-best prospects, respectively, by MLB Pipeline. The full roster for the futures game is here.

Is it finally happening? Could this long, dark era of Detroit sports misery be nearing its end?

DETROIT -- Spencer Torkelson has just made his first big step on the road to Detroit. 1 overall draft pick in 2020 has been promoted from Class A (advanced) West Michigan to Double-A Erie. Catcher Dillon Dingler, drafted in the second round with the 38th overall pick is also being promoted to Erie. Torkelson and Dingler will join outfielder Riley Greene in Erie, putting three of the Tigers’ top position prospects on the same club. “Torkelson was struggling and now he’s bounced back and he’s showing why he was the first pick and Dingler is showing why he was our second pick,” Avila said.

Remember a month ago, when the Detroit Tigers were 9-24? That was rough. Now, there are some legitimate signs of hope.

The West Michigan Whitecaps matched their longest winning streak since 2017 with Tuesday’s 7-5 win over Great Lakes. It was the eighth consecutive win for the Whitecaps, who bashed out eight hits in the opening inning and took a 6-0 lead. The first five Whitecaps hitters recorded hits, enabling West Michigan take a 3-0 lead. Dillon Dingler then doubled to give West Michigan its first three runs. The two teams traded single runs the next two innings as King delivered another run-scoring single to bring the Whitecaps lead to 7-4.

Spencer Torkelson teed off on Lake County pitchers Saturday night at LMCU Ballpark in Comstotck Park. Torkelson, who was selected first overall by the Detroit Tigers in the 2020 MLB Draft, crushed a pair of three-run homers, leading the West Michigan Whitecaps to a 17-5 win over the Captains. It marked just the third time in franchise history that the Whitecaps scored 17 or more runs in a game. Watch: Torkelson slams two three-run homersThe 21-year-old Torkelson went 3-for-6 with six RBIs in the game. Torkelson is hitting .246 on the season, and he has three homers and 17 RBIs in 65 at-bats.

West Michigan Whitecaps’ Spencer Torkelson delivered a walk-off RBI-single to defeat the Great Lakes Loons 2-1 Saturday night at LMCU Ballpark. Check out the hit:“The biggest moment in the professional career of the @tigers number one overall pick!”@ThatDanHasty has the call as Spencer Torkelson (@spennyt) walks it off to beat Great Lakes 2-1 on Saturday night! Loons reliever Braidyn Fink (0-2) lasted 0.2 frames while allowing one run on two hits in his second defeat this season. Saturday’s win marks the second walk-off win for the Whitecaps during this six-game homestand. The Whitecaps send 20-year-old Keider Montero to the mound for his third 2021 start against Loons pitcher Logan Boyer.

The Detroit Tigers' 2020 first-round draft choice is blocking out the noise as he starts his first pro campaign.

COMSTOCK PARK – Great Lake’s leadoff hitter Leonal Valera fouled off the game’s first pitch from West Michigan’s Kiedro Monteroi Tuesday at LMCU Ballpark. The Loons blew out the Whitecaps 9-1, holding West Michigan to two hits and a run that was scored in the bottom of the ninth. West Michigan played before a sold-out crowd of 2,000 spectators – the Whitecaps are currently limited to 20 percent capacity due to coronavirus restrictions. West Michigan will host Great Lakes Wednesday at 6:35 p.m.MORETigers’ No. 1 overall pick Torkelson to play ‘a lot of third base’ for West Michigan Whitecaps

We couldn't pick out the one player who's the key to the Detroit Tigers' ongoing rebuild ... so we picked out 10.

On Mother's Day, the Detroit Tigers had to reschedule their game for July 16 at 2:10 p.m. as part of a split doubleheader with the Minnesota Twins.

1 overall draft pick to take the field for the West Michigan Whitecaps this spring. “I think right now, we want him to play a lot of third base,” Pena said. I really love that man; I really love everything that he’s been teaching me and continuing to do so. They’re hungry because they want to get to Detroit, they want to help us to win more games at the highest level.”More West Michigan Whitecaps coveragePlay ball! Michigan minor-league teams ready for season of change after 600-day hiatusOpening Day announced for West Michigan WhitecapsCheck out the West Michigan Whitecaps’ full rosterSpencer Torkelson on West Michigan Whitecaps’ Opening Day rosterHere’s when, how fans can purchase West Michigan Whitecaps ticketsWest Michigan Whitecaps pleased with first-day ticket sales: ‘About 2,500 in 90 minutes’West Michigan Whitecaps unveil new name for ballparkWest Michigan Whitecaps promoted to High-AWhitecaps manager Brayan Pena waits, studies and tries to help anxious minor leaguersBrayan Pena hopes his story of defection from Cuba inspires Whitecaps

Affiliates of the Detroit Tigers released their minor league rosters Thursday, revealing destinations for Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene and others.

The West Michigan Whitecaps offseason promotion to the Detroit Tigers’ high A affiliate brought expectations of more top prospects to Comstock Park this season. The move has already paid dividends now that infielder Spencer Torkelson will be on the Whitecaps’ Opening Day roster. RELATED: Check out the West Michigan Whitecaps’ full rosterAccording to MLB Pipeline, Torkelson is ranked as the Tigers’ top prospect and MLB’s No. 6), who are both headed to West Michigan. MOREWest Michigan Whitecaps pleased with first-day ticket sales: ‘About 2,500 in 90 minutes’

So it seemed like a good time to brush off the story we wrote last March: When will Riley Greene make the big leagues? And whereas Greene wowed observers during his spring debut last March, both top prospects have struggled at the plate in 2021. First, keep in mind that a players’ debut is dependent on a number of factors, some of which have nothing to do with performance. Riley GreeneTo take a stab at Greene’s timeline, we looked at the 45 high school position players drafted in the top 15 overall picks from 2009-2019. In fact, every player in that category drafted from 2010-2020 has either made the big leagues or has a good chance of making the big leagues.

Hinch needs more at-bats for players who are going to be on the Opening Day roster. Greene and Torkelson, no matter how things went this spring, weren’t going to be in that group. Both players, Hinch said, were extremely professional and hard-working behind the scenes. A sample size of 25 plate appearances should be taken with a huge grain of salt, but Torkelson’s debut did not exactly scream “big-league ready.”“They’re really good players,” Hinch said. “But I know that the makeup is real and the talent is real.”

The Detroit Tigers reassigned two of their top prospects to minor-league camp on Saturday morning. The Tigers now have 39 players in Major League camp, although that group includes pitchers Wily Peralta, who has not yet arrived from the Dominican Republic, and Rony Garcia, who is recovering from an appendectomy and might start the season on the injured list. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft, made his Tigers’ debut this spring but had to wait a while for his first hit. The Tigers are in no hurry to make a decision as the minor-league season doesn’t begin until May. TIGERS’ MAJOR LEAGUE CAMP (39)Players on the 40-man roster are in bold.

1 overall draft pick in 2020 and one of the game’s top prospects, smacked a sharp single to left field Saturday in the Detroit Tigers’ game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Clearwater. Prior to that at-bat, Torkelson had been 0-for-15 with nine strikeouts in Grapefruit League play. “Tork got his first professional hit in an exhibition game. Good for him.”The cheers from the Tigers’ dugout may have had a tinge of sarcasm. It wouldn’t be the first time that the Tigers have given Tork a hard time in camp.

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Spencer Torkelson is still waiting for his first hit in a Detroit Tigers uniform. But Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said he still planned to find opportunities for Torkelson to play, even if it’s just coming off the bench. “He’s going to have better camps than this in the future,” Tigers manager A.J. It’s no fun to go through what he’s going through.

Mize walked three in two innings of work in the Tigers’ win over the Blue Jays at Joker Marchant Stadium. But my body’s feeling really good, the ball is coming out really well. He’s really good. He’s going to be challenged, even in the spring. “Ureña was a little bit erratic with his stuff and couldn’t couldn’t really control his movement,” Hinch said.

So when Isaac Paredes, normally a third baseman, started at second base on Saturday night, he might have known what to expect. Paredes helped turn a double play in the first inning, fielding a grounder and caught a liner in the third and then handled all three outs in the fifth. We saw that on the double play. He and Niko (Goodrum) turned an incredible double play.”Paredes, 22, came up as a shortstop and has played second base as recently as last winter in Mexico and 2018 in Class A Lakeland. “Paredes is well equipped to handle the position,” Hinch said.

He was referring to Miguel Cabrera getting plenty of action in the first inning of his first game at first base since 2019. But the baseball axiom could have applied just as equally on Friday, when rookie Spencer Torkelson handled two hot shots at first base in the first inning against the New York Yankees. “It’s fun to get him some action,” Hinch said. “It’s good to get him some real-time game action against some guys that he’s only watched on TV,” Hinch said. More strong armsIn their first nine-inning game of the exhibition season, the Tigers tied the Yankees 1-1.

“I was making this corn salsa and there was a can of beans to put in it. Torkelson had been playing and practicing exclusively at third base since being drafted last summer, but he played first throughout his college career. “When they told me I was going to have a chance to get some more ABs during spring training over at first base, I brought (the first base glove) out of the box. But he’s approaching this first spring training as if he were competing for a spot on the big-league roster, even if he knows that’s unlikely to happen. “He sent me a text: ‘My own son in Major League spring training.’ I always dreamed of it, but now it’s a reality.

LAKELAND, Fla. -- If you had said last summer that Spencer Torkelson would make his debut at Joker Marchant Stadium at first base, it would a safe prediction that verged on a statement of the obvious. Hinch said Torkelson would likely play first once or twice a week in the minor leagues in 2021. While Torkelson was at first, Isaac Paredes was making his Grapefruit League debut at third base. Haase has played first base in the past and has practiced there this spring. Cabrera was DH on Wednesday; he’ll get a chance to play in the field at some point later in the spring.

After fighting off a foul ball, Torkelson laid off the last two pitches to draw a walk. 1 overall by the Tigers last year and spent the summer at the club’s alternate site in Toledo. pic.twitter.com/0gYwn50y0U — Detroit Tigers (@tigers) March 2, 2021The Tigers beat the Pirates 6-1 Tuesday in a game that was limited to five innings by the Pirates’ request. In addition to Torkelson, Tigers pitching prospect Casey Mize made his spring debut on Tuesday. Lefty Daniel Norris will start for Detroit and Miguel Cabrera is expected to make his spring debut as designated hitter.

Hinch has made great hay of Spencer Torkelson’s foibles during the first two weeks of spring training. “I like to poke fun at the young guys and loosen the mood a little bit,” Hinch said. “Tork has unfortunately been on the receiving end of that with the can opener and the fall at second. “But veteran players love to hear stories about young players at some of those (team) meetings, and I’m happy to loosen the mood a little bit.”Torkelson was the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft last year and spent the summer at the Tigers’ alternate training facility in Toledo.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera will make his 2021 Grapefruit League debut on Wednesday in Lakeland, manager A.J. Cabrera is the only healthy and fully cleared Tiger who has not yet appeared on a lineup card. But Hinch said that was according to plan, and Cabrera will get his first at-bats at designated hitter on Wednesday. Hinch said Cabrera got seven innings worth of “live at-bats” on Sunday, even though it wasn’t in a game setting. The Tigers’ game against Pittsburgh will only be five innings on Tuesday.

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Miguel Cabrera will play some games at first base eventually this spring, but it won’t happen in the first few days of the Grapefruit League. Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said the Tigers are limiting the defensive workload for Cabrera, who turns 38 in April. Cabrera will get some work at first base eventually. Both the Tigers star and his new manager seem committed to letting him play in the field at least occasionally in 2021.

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Spencer Torkelson’s first game as a professional will have to wait a few days longer. The Detroit Tigers third baseman sliced his right index finger at his rental home in Lakeland Wednesday night and had to get stitches, manager A.J. Torkelson will be limited in practice for a few days and won’t be able to play in the Tigers’ Grapefruit League opener on Sunday. When life cuts your finger, buy a can opener and then laugh it off👆 https://t.co/5vAIkt7MIv — Spencer Torkelson (@spennyt) February 25, 2021Torkelson was the No. “But that time will come when he gets back.”Torkelson shares the Lakeland rental home with Riley Greene, another top Tigers’ prospect, and catcher Jake Rogers.

But if it’s difficult to draw conclusions from a normal spring day, it’s an exercise in utter futility in 2021. #TigersST pic.twitter.com/BXrB7iD89M — Detroit Tigers (@tigers) February 23, 2021**Even so, it was the first day of the A.J. pic.twitter.com/RZYGMy1eyi — Detroit Tigers (@tigers) February 23, 2021**Before we get to what we saw on Day 1, let’s cover what we didn’t see. It’s fun to watch him take batting practice, as he can hit the ball a long, long way with seemingly little effort. Although he only just turned 23 years old, he’s long since fallen off the top-prospect lists.

TIGERS IN 2021: This is the eighth in a series of profiles on the Detroit Tigers’ organizational depth heading into the 2021 season. We might not know the answer to that question until the end of spring training. “For Nunez, obviously his ability to play first base is going to be key,” Tigers manager A.J. Non-roster invitees to spring training: Renato Nunez, Daniel Pinero (utility), Aderlin Rodriguez (also plays third). Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera bats during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo.

TIGERS IN 2021: This is the fifth in a series of profiles on the Detroit Tigers’ organizational depth heading into the 2021 season. He came up as a shortstop before shifting to third base, and the Tigers would like to get him some more looks at second base to increase his versatility. Although he spent his entire college career as a first baseman, the Tigers are working him at third. Don’t forget that the Tigers also drafted ASU third baseman Gage Workman and high-schooler Colt Keith, who could also play third base, last summer. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)APMost starts at third base for Tigers through the years2012: Miguel Cabrera2013: Miguel Cabrera2014: Nick Castellanos2015: Nick Castellanos2016: Nick Castellanos2017: Nick Castellanos2018: Jeimer Candelario2019: Dawel Lugo2020: Isaac Paredes

All the Detroit Tigers’ top prospects will be in Lakeland, Fla., when spring training gets under way later this month. The Tigers formally confirmed that infielder Spencer Torkelson and outfielder Riley Greene would be in camp as non-roster invitees. In the past, spring training was split into Major League and minor-league camps. This year, the players in the minor-league camp won’t arrive until much later in an effort to prevent crowding. But every player who was invited to spring training last February and remains in the organization a year later was invited back to participate in this year’s camp.

On that afternoon in Phoenix, Torkelson was playing first base, as he’d done for virtually all of his baseball career. Since then, Torkelson has watched his junior season of college ball get canceled due to COVID-19; was drafted with the No. “The Tigers told me to work on the third-base glove, so that’s what I’ve been doing.”Whether Torkelson, 21, ends up first or third base in the big leagues, remains a matter of debate. Some prospect rankings list him as a third baseman; others are skeptical and put him at first base. Tigers general manager Al Avila has openly speculated that Torkelson will probably start his minor-league journey at Class A West Michigan.

The Detroit Tigers have five of the top 100 prospects in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline’s newly released rankings. RHP Matt ManningMLB Pipeline said the Tigers were the first team ever to have five of the top 25 players one of its top prospects lists. That’s roughly similar to the top 100 released by Baseball America last week, although MLB Pipeline is a bit higher on Mize and Greene. Four of the five players -- Mize (7th), Manning (24th), Greene (31st) and Skubal (46th) -- were ranked by MLB Pipeline a year ago. “The Tigers may appear to be top-heavy in talent with five Top 100 prospects ranking in the top quarter of the list, but there’s impact talent and depth spread throughout the system, thanks largely to the team’s strong Drafts in recent years,” MLB Pipeline wrote about the Tigers.

Major League Baseballs number one draft pick Spencer Torkelson #73 of the Detroit Tigers takes batting practice during the Detroit Tigers Summer Workouts at Comerica Park on July 4, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. DETROIT – The preseason prospect rankings for 2021 were released Thursday night, and the Detroit Tigers stole the show with five players ranked among the top 25 prospects in the league. A handful of other teams placed two prospects inside the top 25, but the Tigers more than doubled that number. 1 overall pick, Spencer Torkelson, is the highest-ranked Tigers prospect at No. 3 overall pick in the upcoming MLB draft.

The Detroit Tigers have two of baseball’s 10 best third base prospects, according to MLB Pipeline. He is expected to receive an invitation to spring training and begin his minor-league career with the Tigers at Class A West Michigan later this year. Torkelson played exclusively at first base in college and might ultimately end up there in the big leagues. Depending on what the Tigers do in the final weeks before spring training, Paredes could come to camp with a chance to win the starting job at third base. The Tigers would also like him to get a look at second base to add to his positional flexibility.

The Detroit Tigers have placed five prospects in the Baseball America top 100 for the second year in a row. 1 overall pick out of Arizona State last summer. Like Torkelson, Mize was a No. 1 overall pick (in 2018). The Toronto Blue Jays and Miami Marlins have six, while the San Diego Padres lead all of baseball with seven.

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila said Thursday that he was tentatively planning to have the 20-year-old outfield prospect start the season in Double-A Erie. But the Tigers evidently feel confident in letting him skip that level after he spent the 2020 season working out with older players at the club’s alternate site in Toledo. Knowing that he can play both, knowing that Torkelson can play both is really an advantage to the organization. He knows if he keep his body intact, he will be able to play second base as well as third. “We also know he can play second and third, and if he’s needed to play the outfield I think he runs well enough that he can.

The Detroit Tigers' last two first-round draft picks have spent the summer getting to know each other. After a few months in Toledo at the club’s alternate site, Spencer Torkelson (the No. At third base, I’m probably an 8 out of 10 right now, but I’m working hard to be a 10 out of 10. Third base is among the most crowded positions in the Tigers organization right now. “The only reason he was a third baseman at Arizona State was because of our shortstop,” Torkelson said.

Fifty Detroit Tigers minor-leaguers, including top prospects Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene, are in Lakeland this month for the Florida Instructional League. “I don’t think it helped by any means,” said Tigers general manager Al Avila said Friday of the shortened 2020 calendar. The 50-man roster released Friday includes 23 pitchers, most of whom weren’t in Toledo this summer. "We’re just not going to pitch them in games at this point.”Greene, the Tigers top draft pick in 2019, and Torkelson, the No. The Tigers' entire 2020 draft class with the exception of catcher Dillon Dingler will also be in Lakeland.

DETROIT Do the Detroit Tigers have the best farm system in baseball? But MLBs new prospect rankings suggest the Tigers are now at the top. MLB Pipeline calculates the top farm systems using prospect points, assigning an organization 100 points for having the No. 100 prospect. MLB Pipeline ranks it as the best in terms of prospect points, but after the most recent draft, it could simply be the strongest overall.

DETROIT The Detroit Tigers now have two of the top 10 prospects in all of baseball and five players in the top 51, according to the most recent rankings update. 1 prospect in the Tigers organization, and the highest ranked first baseman and third baseman. Major League Baseballs number one draft pick Spencer Torkelson #73 of the Detroit Tigers walks to third base during the Detroit Tigers Summer Workouts at Comerica Park on July 4, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. READ: Theres no reason for Detroit Tigers to delay Casey Mize any longerMizes splitter received a rare 70 grade, and his fastball and slider each received 60 grades. Detroit Tigers coaches look on and watch as Casey Mize #74 of the Detroit Tigers warms up in the bullpen during the Detroit Tigers Summer Workouts at Comerica Park on July 14, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan.

DETROIT The Detroit Tigers sent 19 players to their alternate training site in Toledo on Monday, leaving 37 players to battle for 30 Opening Day roster spots. READ: How will the Tigers fill their final rotation spots after the Jordan Zimmermann injury? Haase and Rogers were fighting for what figured to be two or three catcher spots on the roster. That means seven of these 13 players will also be sent to Toledo or the taxi squad, while six make the roster. Lets assume its 11, leaving four bullpen spots and two reserve spots open.

DETROIT This might be the most exciting time of the year for Detroit Tigers fans. Probability of being in actual Opening Day lineup: Keep dreaming! But the main reason hes included in this version of the Tigers lineup is his continuing ascent up the all-time leaderboards. Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers looks on during Spring Training workouts at the TigerTown Facility on February 17, 2020 in Lakeland, Florida. Isaac Paredes #19 of the Detroit Tigers looks on during Spring Training workouts at the TigerTown Facility on February 18, 2020 in Lakeland, Florida.

DETROIT The Detroit Tigers have signed No. 1 overall pick Spencer Torkelson to a record contract, locking up the sixth and final member of their impressive 2020 draft class. MLB Pipelines Jim Callis reports Torkelson signed for $8,416,300, which is $1,000 over the No. 1 draft slot value. pic.twitter.com/8TPPBzuWBk Detroit Tigers (@tigers) June 30, 2020

1 overall draft pick Spencer Torkelson and the Detroit Tigers agreed to a minor league contract on Tuesday, and the team said the infielder will join its player pool for this abbreviated season. Torkelson's deal includes $8,418,800, of which $8,416,300 is a signing bonus and $2,500 is a newly created contract execution bonus that is not in the usual structure of initial major league contracts. He is to receive $102,500 within 30 days of the deals approval by Major League Baseball, and 50% of the rest on each July 1 in 2021 and 2022. Detroit announced 58 selections for its player pool Sunday, leaving two spots open. The Tigers also included Mize and several other top pitching prospects in that player pool, meaning it's possible that some of Detroit's biggest young names could reach the majors at some point this season.

DETROIT The Detroit Tigers have released their initial Club Player Pool, including 58 players who can participate in spring training. Schwindel was one of the nice success stories of spring training in March. Willi Castro could benefit from the extra roster spots, but Lugo feels like someone who could still end up on the outside looking in. ProspectsThese are the players Tigers fans are most anxious to see, and for good reason. Dingler made the cut just weeks after being the teams second-round draft pick, but hell likely just get some work in Toledo.

Since Oct. 19, 2013, the Tigers, Lions, Pistons and Red Wings are a combined 5-25 in playoff games, with the Red Wings accounting for all five wins in first-round losses. So the question everyones been asking for years remains: Which team is closest to bringing a championship to Detroit? The only argument in favor of the Lions being the closest to winning a championship is the year-to-year unpredictability in the NFL. The former Red Wings legend has traded in his sweater for a suit and tie to bring Hockeytown back to glory. After floundering in the latter years of the Ken Holland era, Red Wings fans can feel optimistic about the direction of the franchise.

DETROIT The Detroit Tigers selected Arizona State third baseman Gage Workman in the fourth round of the MLB draft. 73 overall in MLB Pipelines draft rankings. 1 overall selectionThe Tigers kicked off the 2020 MLB draft Wednesday by selecting Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson. Second-round pickThe Tigers drafted Ohio State catcher Dillon Dingler to kick off the second-round of the MLB draftThe Tigers got a value with this pick, nabbing the No. Compensatory pickThe Tigers took a third straight college bat in the Competitive Balance Round B of the draft.

NEW YORK The Detroit Tigers took a few more big swings at rebuilding their lineup. Ohio State catcher Dillon Dingler led off the draft's second day as the No. 3 overall pick to the Marlins, and they followed with Oklahoma high school lefty Daxton Fulton (No. 1 overall pick for the second time in three years, after taking Auburn right-hander Casey Mize in 2018. With their potential future ace already sailing through the farm system, the Tigers turned to bats this time.

DETROIT The Detroit Tigers selected high school third baseman Colt Keith in the fifth round of the MLB draft. He hit .448 with 15 home runs and 32 doubles in 99 career high school games, according to Max Preps. Tigers 2020 draft picks :MLBs draft, usually 40 rounds, was shortened to five rounds because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 1 overall selectionThe Tigers kicked off the 2020 MLB draft Wednesday by selecting Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson. 24 overall prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.

1 overall selection certainly helps when putting together a draft class, and the Tigers owned the top pick for the second time in three years. 62 overall in Competitive Balance Round BWhen the second night of the draft began, many wanted the Tigers to take Cabrera -- the No. LSU outfielder Daniel Cabrera (Associated Press)With Torkelson, Dingler and Cabrera, the Tigers got the No. Even though he might not have been projected as a third-round pick, Cruz fits the prototype the Tigers were targeting this draft. 87 overall prospect in the draft, but the Tigers got him nearly 50 picks later.

DETROIT The Detroit Tigers selected Ohio State catcher Dillon Dingler in the second round of the MLB draft. Dingler was taken with the first pick of the second round, No. That was obviously a blow to the Tigers, as they would have had the top selection in each round. 1 overall selectionThe Tigers kicked off the 2020 MLB draft Wednesday by selecting Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson. Tigers rebuildDetroit finished with the worst record in baseball last season for the second time in three years, going just 47-114.

It's a combination that's worked before for the Detroit Tigers and now they have a couple of prospects they hope can bring competitive baseball back to the Motor City. Detroit drafted Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson with the top pick in Wednesday night's draft, although the Tigers plan to try him across the diamond at third base. I dont think anybody really knows whats going to happen here. "But I think Spencers the kind of guy, I dont think hes going to get real slowed down by any of this stuff. I don't think my progress has been halted at all.

DETROIT The Detroit Tigers selected LSU outfielder Daniel Cabrera with their selection in the Competitive Balance Round B of the MLB draft. 62 overall pick. For the second straight pick, the Tigers took a player projected to go much earlier in the draft. 38 overall prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. 1 overall selectionThe Tigers kicked off the 2020 MLB draft Wednesday by selecting Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson.

DETROIT The Detroit Tigers selected Rice shortstop Trei Cruz in the third round of the MLB draft. 126 overall prospect at No. 1 overall selectionThe Tigers kicked off the 2020 MLB draft Wednesday by selecting Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson. 24 overall prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. Compensatory pickThe Tigers took a third straight college bat in the Competitive Balance Round B of the draft.

DETROIT The Detroit Tigers have the No. 1 pick in Wednesdays MLB draft, and Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson is considered the most likely selection. The Detroit Tigers are rebuilding around an impressive group of minor league pitchers. Whether its Arizona State slugger Spencer Torkelson or somebody else, Detroit has a chance to add another potential standout when it makes the No. Lacey is the top pitching prospect in the draft and would join an embarrassment of riches in the Tigers system.

DETROIT The Detroit Tigers selected Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson with the No. READ: What the Detroit Tigers are getting in Spencer TorkelsonTorkelson joins outfielder Riley Greene -- the teams first-round pick last season at No. The Detroit Tigers are rebuilding around an impressive group of minor league pitchers. Whether its Arizona State slugger Spencer Torkelson or somebody else, Detroit has a chance to add another potential standout when it makes the No. Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson.

NEW YORK The Detroit Tigers selected Arizona State slugger Spencer Torkelson with the No. 1 pick Wednesday night in the Major League Baseball amateur draft. The baseball-bashing Torkelson played first base in college, but was announced as a third baseman by Commissioner Rob Manfred. After having the majors worst record last season, Detroit opened the draft for the second time in three years. This years draft was originally scheduled to be held for the first time in Omaha, Nebraska, as a lead-in to the College World Series.

(AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)NEW YORK Baseballs amateur draft is about to enter the next phase of its ongoing development same as all those young prospects picked every year. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 version was ticketed for a move to Omaha, Nebraska, to coincide with the College World Series there. But with the top pick in the second June amateur draft in 1966, the New York Mets swung and missed. All that hype came to full fruition a decade later, when he was the World Series MVP as the Nationals won the franchises first championship last year. Prior to Appel, the only top overall picks who failed to reach the majors were Chilcott and left-hander Brien Taylor (Yankees, 1991).