10:01PM: The Tigers officially announced Torkelson’s recall and Madris being optioned to Toledo.
8:18AM: The Tigers are set to recall first baseman Spencer Torkelson from Triple-A Toledo today, according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Torkelson will take the place of Bligh Madris, as Petzold reports that Madris was optioned to Triple-A after the Tigers’ 3-0 loss to the Yankees yesterday.
It has been over two and a half months since Torkelson’s last Major League game, as the Tigers decided the first baseman was in need of a refresh after a brutal start to the season. Torkelson hit only .201/.266/.330 with four home runs in his first 230 plate appearances in 2024, translating to only a 68 wRC+. With his Statcast numbers not hinting at any underlying reasons for optimism, Torkelson went back to Toledo looking to get himself back on the track.
The results in Triple-A have been mixed. Torkelson has hit .239/.356/.443 with 11 homers in his 275 PA with the Mud Hens, so his numbers have been solid yet far from dominant. He also posted a 30.9% strikeout rate in the minors this season, well above his past strikeout rates at either the Major League or minor league levels. As Petzold notes, a lot of these strikeouts are coming against sliders and changeups, though Torkelson has at least been performing better against higher-velocity offerings.
A winning record is still within reach for the 59-64 Tigers, but with a playoff run looking quite unlikely, Detroit is using the rest of the season to evaluate its young talent. Jace Jung and Trey Sweeney were just called up yesterday for their respective MLB debuts, so between those rookies, Torkelson, and Colt Keith becoming a fixture in his first Major League season, the Tigers could be getting an early look at what might be their infield of the future.
Torkelson still must be considered part of that future, as he hit .233/.313/.446 with 31 homers over 684 PA during the 2023 season. The first overall pick of the 2020 draft doesn’t turn 25 years old until next week, and while the Tigers naturally would’ve liked to have seen the youngster adjust to the big leagues in much smoother fashion, it is still far too early to wonder if Detroit should be looking to move on from Torkelson. Of course, Torkelson will need to hold up his end of the deal against MLB pitching, and even average-ish production won’t cut it from a bat-first player expected to deliver big numbers from the first base position.
WOW! He batted .239 against AAA pitching!
Get the feeling if he doesn’t show signs of improvement Tigers will be looking to move on from him this off season? Easy to move Keith over to first, Jung to second?
Keith is becoming a good 2B so he stays. If Tork doesn’t pan out they get an FA 1B.
If they decide to move on from him, they could go get a 1B or they move Keith to 1B in favor of a natural 2B (Jung, Lee). If Keith’s arm is recovered maybe they move him to 3B or maybe they try to sign Bregman for 3B. Lots of options this year for the first time in a while.
I’ve watched Keith all year. Nothing wrong with his arm. Could use a little more range tho.
Any word on whether he’s learned how to catch the ball or how to throw the ball to the right base?
I mean this in all seriousness, has he gotten his eyes checked? You can’t hit what you can’t see. If it’s millions of dollars on the line, seeing an optometrist isn’t the worst waste of time
I’ve long wondered if teams bothered to consider eyesight checks. Bet there are some guys who would improve with glasses/contacts. Darrell Porter glasses earn style points.
In all seriousness, I’m sure that’s one of the 1st things the Tigers did.
You are sooooooooo wrong. A.J. Hinch is perfect for these Tigers. I’m continuingly impressed with how he juggles that pitching staff and gets good performances out of that group. You want Brad Ausmus back? No, no, no, no. Hinch is one of the best managers in baseball and will have the Tigers in the playoffs within 2 years.
A bigger bust than Dolly Parton.
I think that’s a premature evaluation, BB…
Huh, and here I was going to say premature ejaculation.
Maybe he becomes a pearl necklace instead.
Nearly 1,200 MLB at bats is premature?
So many giving up so quickly. Its taking longer than expected, but Malloy hasn’t been lighting up the dial, and no one complains on him. (Absolutely no range in the OF. Makes Castellanos look like a gold glover.) They all need adjustment time. Especially when coaches are changing their swing.
Funny how he and Andrew Vaughn were such highly touted bats and have underperformed so badly. Even Vlad, Jr., has been something of a disappointment. Maybe there’s a lesson here about not drafting guys whose only value is in their bats. Occasionally, you get a guy like Frank Thomas, but when you miss, it’s often such a big hole.
Vladdy doesn’t belong in this conversation.
A. Vladdy was an international signing, so he wasn’t drafted
B. At the conclusion of his age 25 season, he will have produced 3 seasons out of six with an OPS+ over 130, 2 of those likely over 150. He’s currently the best offensive first baseman in the majors this season (by OPS+)
He has not produced like Frank Thomas, but few outside the steroid era ever have.
Right now, there’s about 29 teams who would be in line to trade for Vladdy this offseason if he were available.
“29 teams…in line to trade”..Maybe 3-5 teams at best. Vlade is Uber expensive and has WIDE production swings and is a bat-first player. Being uber expensive, inconsistent, slow and portly is not a great recipe for MANY teams, not to mention many already have suitable first basemen rostered. Even the best player in MLB is not coveted by all 29 other teams and Vlad Jr. is hardly the best player in MLB.
Vladdy is not part of this discussion. He won an MVP, or should have, if only counting hitters.
“Or should have”…When you don’t win an MVP, it’s because someone had a better year than you. It’s that simple really. There’s actually no awards for “should have”.
Weren’t Vaughn and JJ Bleday picked ahead of Riley Greene?
Vlad jr is hardly a disappointment. Might want to go check his stat line.
He was the last two yrs, much better this yr. He is still only 25 so he can get better and be a perennial MVP candidate.
Maybe that’s who the Tigers thought they were getting when they signed Ryan Vilade.
Tigers obviously feel Tork has accomplished what they set out for him to work on in AAA otherwise they would not be recalling him.. It is either that or they want to work more closely with him on certain things. In any event he is back. Far too soon to call him a bust as some are prone to do. Most young players are up and down early in their career before finally finding their footing. You can focus on him being a 1-1 but 2020 was a pretty weak draft especially if you compare it to 2019 and 2021. Not sure Tork would have been a top 5 pick in either of those drafts.
A lot of people focus on his overall stats from his time in Toledo this year. But, he was sent there to work on things and you are probably right in that they feel as if he’s accomplished the goals they set forth. He was pretty hot over the last 10 days or so.
I blame Avila for Tork’s woes. I remember watching him in Spring Training back in 2022 and knowing then he wasn’t ready for the big leagues. Yet, he was on the opening day roster. Now, they’re having to backpedal on his career so he can learn what he didn’t learn after being rushed through the minors.
If Torkelson could give the Tigers even Ryan Mountcastle-esq production they’d probably be happy.
Still young, lots of room to grow. The Tigers as an offensive unit have been terrible for years now. Maybe a new hitting approach is needed
Bust for a top overall pick.
Not necessarily. Just look at the history of the overall #1 pick. Guys like A-Rod, Griffey, and Chipper are the exception, not the rule. For every Bryce Harper, there are 2-3 Delmon Youngs or Tim Beckhams. Torkelson deserves a chance to at least build up his career before being anointed a bust. After he retires, then judge his career. Don’t judge him before his career really even starts.
Tigers have a new hitting coach this year. With Carpenter having missed so much time and Greene being out for part of season, lineup had little protection. Not saying more protection in lineup is the lone factor by any means. But it was in no way beneficial.
Every number 1 pick since 1991:
’91 Brian Taylor (bust)
’92 Phil Nevin (hit)
’93 Alex Rodriguez (hit)
’94 Paul Wilson (bust)
’95 Darin Erstad (hit)
’96 Kris Benson (bust)
’97 Matt Anderson (bust)
’98 Pat Burrell (hit)
’99 Josh Hamilton (bust)
’00 Adrian Gonzalez (hit)
’01 Joe Mauer (hit, HoF)
’02 Bryan Bullington (bust)
’03 Delmon Young (bust)
’04 Matt Bush (bust)
’05 Justin Upton (hit)
’06 Luke Hochevar (bust)
’07 David Price (hit)
’08 Tim Beckham (bust)
’09 Stephen Strasburg (hit)
’10 Bryce Harper (hit)
’11 Gerrit Cole (hit)
’12 Carlos Correa (hit)
’13 Mark Apple (bust)
’14 Brady Aiken (bust)
’15 Dansby Swanson (hit)
’16 Mickey Moniak (bust)
’17 Royce Lewis (jury’s still out)
’18 Casey Mize (jury’s still out)
’19 Adley Rutschman (hit)
’20 Spencer Torkelson (bust, so far)
’21 Henry Davis (jury’s still out)
’22 Jackson Holliday (rookie)
’23 Paul Skenes (hit, so far)
Lot of busts in there but also lots of players that are considered busts relative to their draft position that wound up having decent careers overall
I don’t think I would put Kris Benson or Josh Hamilton in the bust category, especially when Phil Nevin is considered a hit.
Benson never lived up to his hype as a top pitching prospects (arm injuries and a psychotic wife played major parts in that). Hamilton got a second lease on MLB life after he was traded to the Reds in ’07 and given a chance to play. If that doesn’t happen he may have never made it to the show at all.
Nevin had a solid run of production with the Padres. How much of it was artificially “helped” is another issue entirely
Not living up to hype is not my definition of a bust. That is the definition of a disappointment, perhaps, but a bust is someone that just didn’t cut it due to talent. Honestly, when it comes to hype the fault never lies with the player. The fault lies with the ridiculous expectations of the people doing the hyping.
Benson was a middling pitcher, but he still lasted in the majors for over a decade. Josh Hamilton won a freaking MVP. How he got there is immaterial. There is no way you can define ANY league MVP as a bust.even if it was their only good season.
career bWAR
Hamilton – 28.2 Nevin – 15.9
Now I am not the biggest proponent of WAR, but there is no way to look at the career of both players and say that Nevin was superior in any way other than longevity. Funny thing is that they finished their careers very close in hits. Hamilton had 1134 and Nevin had 1131.
Point taken. I guess i just look at Hamilton as having that prospect sheen long worn off by the time he made it and became an impact player
That is a fair assessment, but you can also look at it as he overcame his own demons and still became a star. Not many of us can do that. Not many of us can overcome our own demons to even be mediocre.
True
So you are going to say “jury is till out” for 2017 and 2018 picks but not 2020?? That’s kind of ridiculous no?
Lewis and Mize have both had injury issues so far
Oh so they still have time to prove themselves?? Did not realize Torkleson’s career was over…
Just to put some positivity into the universe: player development isn’t linear.
It has been reported that Tork has been very reluctant to change his approach at the plate with the minor league instructors. That is the problem that I have. If you are not putting up numbers of “average” MLB players and you are hesitant to accept coaching on your plate approach, that’s a problem. Rumor was that’s why they sent him down, as he was being extremely hard headed about accepting the fact that he needs to overhaul his swing. He was a mile late on his swing at even low 90’s fastballs earlier this season. He has to guess at the plate due to this, and when you’re up there guessing against MLB hurlers, you start looking like Baez on outside sliders! Hopefully he will take the advice of his coaches this time around.
“Reports” and “rumors” don’t make it so. This is not a Turnbull situation. Pretty sure the clubhouse will be happy to get him back.
Maybe Madris will be the Sept callup.
Sounds like he thinks it’s just a matter of time before he starts hitting again. It’s not mechanical… it may look like it… His words.
mlb.com/video/spencer-torkelson-on-his-time-in-tri…
These reports didn’t come from TMZ chief. And I’m not saying it’s fact, just relaying what was said. And it sucks but does make sense.
The worst thing that could have happened to a guy like him is to have a season like last year. Here he is having been a stud his entire life, first overall pick, famous baseball millionaire. And now, he’s a guy who hit 30 bombs in the show. Having a superficially great statistic like that repeated over and over again about his mediocre season, now you’re never going to be able to convince him to change. I’m pretty sure now he’s full White Miguel Sano. Maybe once he gets released a couple of times and spends a year out of baseball he’ll try to change his approach, but by then he’ll be in his 30s and get injured too much for it to matter.
IF that were the case then the Tigers would have just left him in AAA.
How do you know the entire clubhouse hates Petzold?
He doesn’t. He just thinks he knows everything. And the report about Torks sent mechanics sure as hell didn’t come from Petzold. It came from a podcast that follows the Tigers minor league affiliates and Motor City Metrics. So yeah, it IS possible that this is the case!
Jim Leyland,….smokes way too much. Has anyone ever suggested the “On Nicotine” pouches? They work.
Aaron Judge had a .179 batting average and struck out about 50% his first season.
Had they hired the Superfife when they were supposed to, Judge would be working for the Detroit Tigers.
There IS something rotten in Denmark…..
And
….
Detroit.
Obviously, Tork is NOT a bust.
The Tigers’ FO should take advantage of down years for both Greene and Torkelson…..
Sign them both @ 6 years/$5M!
Holy Toledo!
Could had a V8!
Should have hired……
?
The same thing with Mize.
LMAO. What a clown you are! Lol, go back to your mom’s couch son.
This dude has holes in his swing so big you can drive a Mack truck through them. Even AAA pitchers didn’t have any trouble finding those holes. Unless he’s totally willing to rebuild his swing and his approach he’s going to be replacement level guy. With no value on the bases or with the glove, he’s got to be able to hit a little better than this. Power is great but you can’t make it as one-tool guy in MLB.
Kingman, Schwarber, Alvarez, Deer, Khris Davis, Chris Carter, Burger, Gallo, Wisdom, Dunn, Alonso…
Just off the top of my head, these guys all made it as one tool guys. Not hall of famers, but regular contributors. Pop in the lineup is always needed. Unless you are as bad defensvely as Sam Horn, they will find ABs for you.
OPS+… Tork’s best was 106… Kingman averaged 115 for his lengthy career. Schwarber averages 123. Rob Deer 109. Khris Davis 117. Carter 108. Gallo 107. Dunn 124. Alonso 135. All have averaged better than Tork’s best career year.
I hope Tork figures it out. A big hitting 1B would be huge on this team. Someone to slot in the lineup between Greene and Carpenter. If he still looks lost these last couple months… go ahead and sign Alonso and if Tork breaks out a year from now, they can split the DH 1B spots. They desperately need a big RH bat.
I’ve said it often. Is Torkelson going to be another Jim Thome or Adam Dunn? So far, he isn’t even a Dunn, which while I was never a fan of his HR, BB or K game, Tork would be lucky to match that.
Alonso and Alvarez are far from one tool guys.
I should have said unless it was the 1990s and you had your roid guy on speed dial. Maybe he should set his time machine for 97 and start hitting the cream and the clear. He might be able to make it as McGwire light.
Champion? You must mean me. I’m a champion!
My mom coached my little league team in Rochester. And SHE WAS COACH OF THE YEAR! So, you might say baseball is in my blood. I have baseball pedigree. Go Lakeside Jewlers!
Another highlight of my illustrious career came in Chelsea, where I hit 4 home runs, yes count them, four home runs in the LL AllStar game. Let me remind you, that was back in the day when participation trophies DID NOT EXIST. (Stock sux).
Unfortunately for me, my baseball career came to a screeching halt when my family moved to Madrid, Spain – where I was viciously and constantly assualted with drugs and assorted other abuses – which if were described here, would get me banned- by wanna be inquisitors…just because I am Protestant.
Avila didn’t hire me back in the day because someone interfered. Bird Basin is a great place to catch reds!(the fish, not Commies or Cincinnatians)
And now this…..
Who will stop the rain?
No. I do not agree.
I.work to be the best ar what ever I endeavor to do.
They had to drug me up and assault me to stop me from e
Being known worldwide and basically ruling the world in peace and love….
Bustolson tearing up Toledo to the tune of .239, he will help the pathetic offense!
Poor Bligh Madris. The Tigers have became very left handed recently. Both Sweeney and Jung are lefties and they DFA’d Urshela who was a righty. Their 2 catchers are RH’d but only 1 will usually be in the lineup. That basically leaves Vierling, Baez (can’t hit R or LH’d pitching much at all), Ibanez (cannot hit RH’d pitching AT ALL) and Malloy from the right side. Malloy is likely back to AAA when Greene (another LH’er) so Tork needs to the big bat from the right side.
They are not demoting Malloy anytime soon. He’s been perfectly adequate, especially for a rookie season.
Who goes when Greene comes back? While his bat is way worse than Malloy’s his defensive versatility far outweighs Malloy’s. I could see Ibanez going. However, Malloy has options, I don’t think either McKinstry or Ibanez have any left.
Make it Malloy and then call him back as the 27th man in September.
McKinstry and Ibanez don’t have any left. McKinstry is a left so possibly him to keep a RH on the team as we are leaning left lately.
Let’s go Tork!
Show ’em you still have it!
Yeah, that would be SO effing nice wouldn’t it?
Buccos should look into a Davis for Tork type of deal.
I’ve followed Davis some and frankly, I’d stick with Tork.
He was the obvious 1-1, but maybe he’s just not a stud carry the team kinda guy. Tigers gotta go with him, I thought they had built a great team around him and if he’s great they’re right in the thick of the AL Central race.
Kjerstad would have been tearing it up for you for a few years. It would have been better for him and the Tigers
If we’re gonna go there, the kitties should’ve drafted Jordan Westburg.
It’s hard to imagine being a young hitter in today’s MLB where pretty much every pitcher you face is bringing mid to upper 90’s. The adjustment/learning curve would be brutal. In Tork’s case, he’s young. Give him some more time.
The Tigers need a Veteran RH bat for the lineup. They also need a stable closer. Sign Bergman for 3B, and trade for Bednar, who is currently slumping. Maybe Tork and Jung platoon at 1B.
No thanks to Bregman. Just another money pit contract.
Good move. The remainder of the season will be a good time to evaluate Tork, Jung & Sweeney for 2025.
When you consider that Jung and Tork have played equally poor defense to Andrew Navigato but Navigato was outhitting both of them in AAA (especially Tork), you Gotta feel a little sympathetic for Andrew Navigato. I’d like to see him get called up in Sep.
I agree, however the Tigers have a lot $$$ invested in Jung and Tork. My guess is Navigato will see Detroit before the end of the season.
I hope so. He’s someone else that they might be able to plug in at 1B.
Johnny, you make a great point. If you look back at MLB drafts over the years, you see great players from later rounds and busts from early rounds. Drafting a high school kid will always be a gamble. The years of minor league seasoning needed for most guys is necessary and dicey at the same time. Some progress and some never do.
And Tarik Skubal was a 9th rounder.
I think teams do a good job scouting overall. Some lower-ranked guys just end up turning the corner and make significant improvements while other higher draftees end up hitting a wall in their development. There are many factors involved in this… coachability, work ethic, physical development, etc.
Good grief I hope he comes back in two weeks he played good ball here ! Well Tork had more power, and if he can generate it more often it should help the team. Might as well see how all the pieces fit together now.
That is looking bad, especially considering how bad AAA pitching currently is.
Not sure what is the issue there? To me it looks like a mix of mental struggles and the Tigers not being great at developing hitting.
Not sure if tork is able to figure it out with the Tigers, needs a change of scenery or is not fixable at all
Then how did they develop Riley Green?
Wow, people are odd…the guy is 24 years old and many are writing him off…
He outhit the entire $300 million Yankees today. That’s a good start.
His Defense is horrible and basically washes everything he does behind the plate.
Why do fans get so upset when you simply point out the obvious? I’m pretty sure we all want Tork to come out killing it to start the 2025 season, do we not? But the fact is that at the present he is a one trick pony, that is he is a true 3-outcome type of hitter. If he refuses to change his mechanics he is going to always be late on MLB fastballs. Even when he hit 31 bombs last season he had monster holes in his swing. He does have a nice, fluid swing. He just needs to make adjustments and I think if he’s willing to be coached he can fix it. He’s still young and has plenty of potential. Here’s to hoping he’s better the rest of the way this year!
For all your so called insight into Torkelson and his skill set, you have absolutely none into managing. Hinch didn’t ruin anybody. He manages. Players play. His job is not to “teach” any player anything once they reach the majors. Listen to Jim Leyland’s interviews after he was inducted into the HOF. He didn’t make any player great once they reached him in the majors. His job was to plug and play ’em. If you didn’t perform, that was on the player. If you’ve reached the majors, you’re good. If you fail, that’s on you. The managers job is to find the next guy who can get the job done.
A.J. Hinch didn’t ruin Spencer Torkelson. Get real.
Do you know anything about baseball? Seriously? Every comment you make is absurd! It’s like you don’t watch a single inning and just read articles and articulate your opinions from that? Unreal….
I need money. I need to.
Glad to see Tork get those solid base knocks. He sounds like he still has confidence. Here’s hoping he returns to 2023 form then continues to improve. The Tigers desperately need a 1B – and a SS & a 3B, for that matter. Letting Tork, Sweeney & Jung get the bulk of the PT the rest of the season is the right strategy.
Wish I could buy a pony – tricks or no tricks….!
They don’t allow ponies in my apartment. I’ve checked.