Tigers and Potential No. 1 Pick Spencer Torkelson Expected to Have No Hang-ups in Contract Talks
The 2020 MLB Draft begins Wednesday and all signs point toward the Detroit Tigers drafting Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson with the No. 1 overall pick.
Assuming there isn't a dramatic change of plans, the next goal becomes signing Torkelson as quickly as possible. Retired Tigers writer Lynn Henning believes there will not be any issues between the two sides.
Torkelson-Tigers contract expected to be inked with no serious hang-ups. The usual finer-line jostling and detailing are yet to be completed. But no impasse. Deal done sooner than later.
— Lynn G. Henning (@Lynn_Henning) June 9, 2020
Getting a deal done soon could mean Torkelson could get some at-bats during the 2020 season. The alternative is him not playing any baseball this summer if the minor league seasons are cancelled. That seems to be the direction in which MiLB is heading.
Spencer Torkelson is the favorite to go No. 1 in the #MLBDraft: ⚾️
— EV Analytics (@EV_Analytics) June 9, 2020
66% S. Torkelson (-1000)
10% Asa Lacy (+600)
9% A. Martin (+750)
7% Nick Gonzales (+1000)
5% E. Hancock (+1500)
3% H. Kjerstad(+2000)#MLB #ReadyForBaseball #Baseball #GamblingTwitter#BetLikeaPro #SportsBetting pic.twitter.com/lJ9rq2dDsh
Torkelson slashed .337/.463/.729 in 129 games with the Sun Devils and had 54 home runs as well. He is the clear first baseman of the future in Detroit and can replace the power lost by the drastic decline of Miguel Cabrera. Getting him signed to a deal right away will only help his career and could allow him to make a name for himself during what will be a unique 2020 season.