Spencer Torkelson named Tiger of the Year
DETROIT – Spencer Torkelson has been named Tiger of the Year as voted on by members of the Detroit chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America, receiving 15 of the 25 votes cast. Kerry Carpenter, Eduardo Rodriguez, Jake Rogers and Tarik Skubal also received at least one vote.
Torkelson, who is one of four finalists for the Silver Slugger Award among American League first basemen, appeared in a team-high 159 games in 2023, batting .233/.313/.446 with 34 doubles, one triple, 31 home runs and 94 RBI. His 31 homers ranked tied for eighth in the AL and were the most in a season by a Tigers player since Miguel Cabrera (38) and Justin Upton (31) in 2016.
Torkelson became the first player in franchise history to have 30-or-more doubles, 30-or-more homers and 90-or-more RBI in his age-23 season. Among Major League players in their age-23 season or younger in 2023, Torkelson ranked second in home runs and doubles and third in RBI.
From June 27 until the end of the season, Torkelson posted an .851 OPS with 17 doubles, one triple, 23 home runs and 60 RBI. He was tied for the American League lead and ranked tied for sixth in the Majors in home runs during that span, while he was third in the AL in RBI, tied for fifth in extra-base hits (41) and 10th in slugging percentage (.524).
The Detroit BBWAA has selected a Tiger of the Year each season dating back to 1965.