LAKELAND, Fla. – Spencer Torkelson took batting practice Monday at Tigertown, hitting long fly balls over the practice field fence. But the prospect took his best swing of the day a while later during an interview session.
When asked if he had done anything special regarding his physical preparation since finishing his first professional season with his participation in the Arizona Fall League, Torkelson estimated that he weighed about 10 pounds less.
“I probably have to give my girlfriend credit,” Torkelson said. “He did a lot of cooking during the offseason, so it wasn’t like I was spending all my time ordering food from the house. So, I ate much better.”
Torkelson’s girlfriend didn’t make the trip to Florida for practice, so unless the teammates he shares a house with help out, he’s going to have to fend for himself.
“If I need a can opener, I will go to the store. I’m not going to use a knife,” Torkelson said with a smile. “Sensitive subject”.
This week marks a year since Torkelson, considered the No. 4 prospect in all of baseball by MLB Pipeline, suffered the mishap that accidentally became the defining moment of his first workouts. Without a can opener handy in the house he rented, he tried to open a sauce can with a knife and cut his thumb in the process. The injury affected his pride more than anything else, but he took it in good humor, then and now.
Torkelson was the new kid in major league camp at the time and was still learning his way around the organization. By contrast, now that he’s started working out of minor league minicamp, he’s one of the Tigers’ biggest stars, evidenced by the number of people who stopped by for his autograph as he walked from the fields to clubhouse practices.
Torkelson is one of the few Tigers players in minor league minicamp with a real shot at making the big team when the regular season begins.
“The mentality is similar, but also quite different, because there is a chance,” Torkelson continued. “But I think you just have to work every day, work hard, show that you can play at the Major League level and let those in charge make the decision.”
Although last year’s practices marked Torkelson’s first swings as a professional hitter, the expectations that he brought from his college days were high, which made the news that he had one hit in 27 appearances at the plate in the League. of the Grapefruit. He then went 9-for-50 with 14 walks and 18 strikeouts in his first 14 games before hitting his first pro home run on May 22.
Since that game, Torkelson hit .278 (106-for-381) with 30 homers, 83 RBIs and a .981 OPS across three minor league levels.
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Torkelson excels at Tigres mini-camp