First baseman Spencer Torkelson has reportedly been optioned by the Detroit Tigers to Triple-A Toledo, per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press.
As the top pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, Spencer Torkelson was perhaps the most important addition to the Tigers’ rebuilding effort over the last few seasons. After being called up in 2022, he struggled until improving in 2023. Torkelson has had extreme difficulty in 2024 on both sides of the ball.
According to FanGraphs, Torkelson is batting.201 so far this season with a.266 on-base percentage, four home runs, and a 71 wRC_. Torkelson is far below average this season in terms of offensive productivity; the league average for wRC+, which is used to judge offence, is 100. He has generally been a liability for a Tigers team that was hoping to contend this season, as he sits at -0.7 WAR.
To fill Torkelson’s roster position, the Tigers called up Triple-A outfielder Justyn-Henry Mallow.
Torkelson’s performance caused him to miss two of the Tigers’ four games against the Boston Red Sox this weekend at Fenway Park. Manager AJ Hinch was questioned if sending Torkelson down to the minors would assist him.
According to Petzold, AJ Hinch answered, “I don’t know.” When he sits for two of the three days, I knew I would be asked the question. That’s not a topic that we’ve discussed much this morning. Today, we’re attempting to figure out how to win the game. That is the most crucial factor.
In the end, the Tigers did determine that Torkelson would benefit from a stay in Triple-A, providing him with an opportunity to regroup before attempting to return to the main league team. Gio Urshela was the Tigers’ first baseman on Sunday. With Torkelson optioned, it appears that he may receive more starts at the position.
What has to be fixed by Spencer Torkelson?
Sending Torkelson down is one thing, but it is crucial that he arrive in Triple-A with a list of specific issues that need to be resolved. Hinch thinks there are issues with his swing’s mechanics.
Through Petzold, Hinch stated, “I think there’s some mechanics things with him.” It’s far more difficult than simply offering an analysis or a suggestion. “where his weight is distributed, his lower half, trusting a lot of the work he’s doing in the cage to be consistent.” Everyone in his ear is attempting to influence him to take a constructive action.
Hinch made these remarks before to Sunday’s game, which the Tigers won 8-4 in ten innings against the Red Sox to go to 29-30 overall. The Minnesota Twins are holding a wild card place, which is four games away from Detroit. Three road games versus the Texas Rangers are next.
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