Tigers continue roster overhaul and welcome back former No. 1 overall pick

More moves for the Tigers!

Emma Lingan

May 17, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Detroit Tigers first base Spencer Torkelson (20) reacts after hitting a single against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports / Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Over the last few days, Detroit Tigers fans have been gifted with a flurry of roster moves that have provided hope for the future. First came Trey Sweeney and Jace Jung. A few other names are on the mend from injuries, too.

And now there's more on Saturday morning. As first reported by Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers have recalled first baseman Spencer Torkelson from Triple-A Toledo.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, Torkelson started the year with the Tigers but was sent down to the minors June 3 after struggling mightily at the plate. It was the second time in three seasons that Detroit optioned him to Triple-A.

Torkelson's slash line of .201/.266/.330 with four home runs and 18 RBI across 229 plate appearances just wasn't getting the job done. His numbers have slightly improved with Toledo, with the 24-year-old batting .239 with 11 home runs, 43 RBI and a .798 OPS. He has a career .218 batting average with a .683 OPS in 232 MLB games, spanning more than 1,300 plate appearances.

It's unclear if he'll be able to make a noticeable leap in his return to the MLB roster, but he could find some inspiration alongside a number of other younger players making an impact and getting the call. Kerry Carpenter has been an offensive savior since his return from the IL and Parker Meadows is beginning to show flashes of potential on both sides of the ball.

To make room for Torkelson on the 26-man roster, the Tigers optioned first baseman Bligh Madris to Toledo. Madris, a left-handed hitter, had been batting in the middle of the Tigers' lineup against right-handed pitchers. He hit .269 (18-for-67) in 21 games with the Tigers, with three doubles and one home run.

The Tigers got blanked by the New York Yankees on Friday night, so let's see if Torkelson joining Sweeney and Jung could foster some momentum for a Tigers team with nothing to lose as they look to build for 2025.

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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.