Detroit Tigers: Spencer Torkelson is enjoying home field advantage

Among the top prospects that are playing at the Arizona Fall League, 2020 1st overall pick Spencer Torkelson continues to stand out but he isn’t the only Detroit Tigers prospect making waves.

As we are now on an off-day in the Arizona Fall League, all of the Detroit Tigers minor league prospects have made an appearance so far for the Salt River Rafters. Last night, Wilmer Flores, who had some stand-out numbers down in Lakeland, made his first appearance. He pitched two innings, allowed one run on one hit but walked four and struck out two. He did generate five swings and misses.

Garrett Hill, who pitched in West Michigan and in Erie this year started last night made a first good impression in three innings of work, striking out five and allowing just one hit. Chavez Fernender has pitched a scoreless inning in his only appearance and Zack Hess has faced just one batter so far.

#Tigers RHP Garrett Hill strikes out the side in the first inning for Salt River.

Middle K came on an automatic third strike when Jeremy Eierman wasn't ready in the box in time. pic.twitter.com/i2DTdai0sN
— Sam Dykstra (@SamDykstraMiLB) October 17, 2021

#Tigers RHP Wilmer Flores topped out at 97.9 mph in the fourth inning. That gives him the second-highest velocity on a single pitch at Salt River so far. (MacKenzie Gore still leads at 98.2)

And yes, I checked my Wilmer Flores math.
— Sam Dykstra (@SamDykstraMiLB) October 17, 2021

But the story has been the play of Spencer Torkelson, who continues to mash the ball just 14 minutes away from his old stomping grounds in Tempe. If you are on Twitter and have not followed Sam Dykstra yet, I would suggest you should as video coverage from the AFL is rather limited.

Spencer Torkelson smokes another single to left.

108.9 off the bat on that one, giving him two exit velocities of 108+ tonight.

He's 2-for-3 tonight and now 7-for-14 to start the Arizona Fall League. pic.twitter.com/8wOveTxtxp
— Sam Dykstra (@SamDykstraMiLB) October 17, 2021

Torkelson is giving the Detroit Tigers something to think about in spring training

What stands out about Spencer Torkelson so far he is continuing to try to hit to right field. Chris Brown discussed this on the podcast but in a recent article, the lack of trying to go opposite field seemed to be missing but so far, it has not been the case. Back on October 15th, all of his three hits were to right field.

He has hit the ball hard, have two exit velocities last night of 108 MPH and 109. He has four walks to just three strikeouts. As he said to Sam Dykstra of MLB.com, he said he just feels he is right at home.

What has been seen so far is the continued growth of a player who started the season in Low-A and starting to figure things out to grow his game at the plate. Salt River plays tomorrow night at 6:30 PM.

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