Spencer Torkelson's 2024 demotion might've saved his Tigers career as surge continues

They say the third time's a charm, and that certainly seems to be the case with Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson.

In the bottom of the second inning of Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Angels at Comerica Park, Torkelson cranked a two-run homer into left-center field to put the Tigers up 2-0. The ball left his bat at 106 mph and helped Detroit capture its season-best sixth win in a row. It was an electrifying moment, but one few would have expected from Torkelson as recently as a couple of months ago.

Torkelson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, had a rocky start to his third campaign in the majors that ultimately got him demoted to Triple-A Toledo in early June. At the time of his demotion, he was hitting hitting .201 with four home runs, 16 walks (7% walk rate) and 56 strikeouts (24.4% strikeout rate) in 54 games. He was also worth -5 defensive runs saved at first base.

Torkelson's second Triple-A demotion in three MLB seasons raised plenty of speculation regarding his future with the Tigers. His continued performance issues had become a concern, and his lengthy stay in Toledo this season caused many to question whether he still factored into the Tigers' long-term plans at first base.

More than two months and 58 Triple-A games later, Torkelson was recalled to Detroit after hitting .239 with 11 home runs and a .799 OPS in Toledo. His 30.9% strikeout rate during those 58 games was concerning to say the least, but the Tigers felt he was ready for another shot in the big leagues. So far, it looks like they were right.

Spencer Torkelson's 2024 demotion might've saved his Tigers career as surge continues

The Tigers recalled Torkelson on Aug. 17 in a corresponding move when they optioned fellow first baseman Bligh Madris to Toledo. They were giving him yet another chance to prove himself at the Major League level, using the final six weeks of the 2024 season as an evaluation period to help make decisions for 2025 and beyond.

In 11 games since getting recalled, the Torkelson is batting .333 with three home runs, four walks and eight RBI. He has hits in seven of those 11 contests, including four multi-hit efforts. He has been a major contributor to the Tigers' six-game win streak and corresponding surge in the American League Wild Card standings.

It feels like the Tigers may have timed this one perfectly. This is Torkelson's third chance to stick in the big leagues, and if the early returns are any indication, it could indeed be the charm for his future with the franchise.

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