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AJ Hinch clarifies wild Spencer Torkelson position switch ahead of Tigers Opening Day

Emma Lingan
Emma Lingan

Motor City Bengals

Detroit Tigers infielder Spencer Torkelson talks to Triple-A hitting coach Mike Hessman during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

After multiple demotions to Triple-A and a free agent signing that cost him his job at first base, former No. 1 overall pick Spencer Torkelson looked like he was on his way out this offseason with the Detroit Tigers.

With the signing of Gleyber Torres shifting Colt Keith over to first base, Torkelson entered spring training this year knowing that he would be facing a major uphill battle to secure a spot on the Tigers' Opening Day roster – and that he would have to earn it with his bat.

To Torkelson's credit, he's done just that. In 37 Grapefruit League at-bats, he's racked up 11 hits, including four homers, and knocked in nine runs for a .297 batting average and a .955 OPS. With numbers like that, it would be nearly impossible for the Tigers – who desperately need a powerful, right-handed bat in the middle of their lineup – to justify leaving Torkelson off of their Opening Day roster.

Now, they just need to figure out where to put him.

Tigers attempting crazy Spencer Torkelson position switch to fit him onto 2025 roster

Of course, Torkelson can always be the Tigers' designated hitter, and that's almost certainly what his everyday role will be if he does make the Opening Day roster. But manager AJ Hinch loves versatility, and he will want Torkelson to be able to do more than just DH and occasionally back up Keith at first base.

The Tigers suddenly find themselves in need of additional outfield depth with Matt Vierling and Parker Meadows set to begin the season on the injured list, creating an opportunity for Hinch to experiment with playing Torkelson in the outfield – where he primarily played in high school but never did as a pro.

Torkelson made his professional outfield debut in right field in Monday's Grapefruit League matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but Hinch cautioned via Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic (subscription required) that the position switch wasn't one we would be seeing "routinely." Hinch also admitted that adding regular outfield work to Torkelson's plate this late in the spring would be "unfair" to him, especially while he is focusing on retooling his swing.

Still, the fact that the Tigers are even experimenting with Torkelson in the outfield would seem to suggest that are committed to having his bat in their Opening Day lineup. An ability to be a reliable option at multiple positions will only help his case.

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Emma Lingan

Emma Lingan

Emma Lingan is an MLB Staff Writer for FanSided primarily covering the Pittsburgh Pirates. She has been covering baseball for more than a decade dating back to her time as a student at Wake Forest University, and she has won two gold medals as a member of the U.S. National Team delegation (2016 Pan-American Championships & 2017 World Baseball Classic). A native of Washington, D.C. and current resident of Nashville, Tenn., she is also entering her seventh season as a credentialed NHL media member and currently covers the NHL’s Nashville Predators for The Hockey News. When she's not watching hockey, baseball or football, she enjoys podcasting, reading, going to the gym, consuming large amounts of coffee and taking long walks with her dog, Minkah. You can follow her @Emma_lingan on Twitter and Instagram.