Who is Spencer Torkelson?

Spencer Torkelson was selected No. 1 overall by the Tigers in the 2020 MLB Amateur Draft, and is currently considered the No. 4 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline. But who is Spencer Torkelson? Here's what to know about the Arizona State product:

FAST FACTS

MLB organization: Tigers
Birthdate: Aug. 26, 1999 (Age 23 in 2022)
Primary positions: 3B/1B
Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 220 lbs.
Bats/throws: Right/right
Hometown: Petaluma, Calif.
School(s): Casa Grande (Calif.) HS; Arizona State
Drafted: 1st overall, 2020 (by DET)

He made the Tigers' Opening Day roster out of Spring Training in 2022

The Tigers announced on April 2, 2022, that Torkelson had made the Opening Day roster after to a strong showing during Spring Training. As of that date, he was hitting .280 with four doubles in 12 Grapefruit League games.

His sixth career hit was a walk-off

As Torkelson transitioned to pro baseball, his first few hits at the High-A level came few and far between. That being said, when he stepped up to the plate for West Michigan on May 15, he more than delivered, driving a ball low and away to center field and giving the Whitecaps a 2-1 victory. He took off from there, going on to post a .935 OPS with 30 homers in 121 games between West Michigan, Double-A Eerie and Triple-A Toledo.

He spent the 2020 season at the alternate site

Without a Minor League Baseball season in 2020, Torkelson traveled to Toledo, Ohio, and was a part of Detroit’s alternate training site roster. The Tigers are trying to play Torkelson professionally at third base, his high school position, while also splitting time and giving him reps at his college position of first base.

He came close to history on Draft day

When Torkelson became the first third baseman since Pat Burrell to be selected first overall in the MLB Amateur Draft, he came just a few words away from making history. As the Tigers announced their pick, they selected Torkelson as a third baseman despite the fact that he never manned the hot corner once in college. If Detroit had chosen to deploy him as a first baseman, Torkelson would have become the first right-handed first baseman to be selected first overall.

He once served as Bill Walton’s swing coach

Prior to calling a college basketball game between Colorado and Arizona State in 2020, NBA icon and ESPN broadcaster Bill Walton interviewed Torkelson and took a few swings in batting practice with the future first-round pick. Torkelson’s advice for the basketball Hall of Famer was simple: “See ball, hit ball.”

He shattered a record once held by Barry Bonds

Torkelson took college baseball by storm in 2018, hitting .320/.440/.743 with 12 doubles, 25 home runs and 53 RBIs. Those 25 home runs were one shy of the NCAA freshman record and easily surpassed Barry Bonds’ previous ASU freshman record of 11 homers, set in 1983.

He’s one of those athletes who is good at everything

In addition to his baseball exploits, the Tigers' top prospect played on both sides of the gridiron as a football player at Casa Grande High School in California. During his senior year of high school, he added basketball to his repertoire in an attempt to help his school secure a state title. Further down the ranks as an amateur, he was named team MVP for the Santa Rosa Junior Hockey Club following its 2009-10 season.

He’s a proud resident of Flavortown

On the diamond, Torkelson keeps great company. He’s struck up a quick friendship with Tigers No. 2 prospect Riley Greene and was a college teammate of Detroit’s No. 11 prospect Gage Workman. He’s received praise on his defense from Tigers legend Alan Trammell and takes swings in the offseason with White Sox left fielder Andrew Vaughn.

Off the diamond, the leader of his fan club has become celebrity chef Guy Fieri.

It turns out the Torkelson and Fieri families go way back, as Spencer’s mother Lori is the CFO for a trio of Fieri’s northern California restaurants. Needless to say, Torkelson will be receiving a lot of restaurant recommendations when he makes his way to the “Motor City.”