Spencer Torkelson in a three act play

It may be strange to think of Spencer Torkelson like the three-act structure in a film or in a play, but bare with me.

Act 1: The Setup – In this act, we are introduced to Torkelson, the first overall pick by the Tigers. We see him training hard, playing games and facing challenges along the way, such as adjusting to each level in the minor leagues and having little to no issues.  This act sets up the character’s goals, motivations, and obstacles.

Act 2: The Confrontation – In this act, Spencer faces more significant challenges as he moves up to the big leagues and competes against tougher opponents. He may struggle with self-doubt, fastballs, going down to Toledo or a stretch in the month of June, in which he put up a slash line of .167/ .224/.205.  The climax of this act could be a critical game where he must overcome his fears and prove himself on the field. In this case for Torkelson, it was the first year in the major leagues, in which the struggles of hitting with power were present. Then came the swing work in the winter, which leads us to Act 3.

Act 3: The Resolution – In this act, our protagonist is reaching his potential. His hard work and determination have paid off. We are seeing the hard hit contact in spring, the balls are starting to drop.  Spencer Torkelson, what Detroit Tigers fans and management have expected to be,

A writer admits a wrong

In the Detroit Tigers Opening Day 1.0 projection, I didn’t have Torkelson on the roster. I thought he was still missing on fastballs. The timing did not seem to be there. It was still early in camp and I left Lakeland not giving enough patience to the process. He leads the Grapefruit League in barrels with 5. Compared to 2022, he had just two all spring. Now the next part of the act: a steady contributor to the Tigers lineup.

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Photo Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports