Tigers insider's Opening Day roster prediction has Spencer Torkelson surprise

Emma Lingan

Detroit Tigers infielder Spencer Torkelson works out during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

After he failed to land an everyday starting role at the Major League level and got demoted to Triple-A (again) because of his inability to hit, Spencer Torkelson's spot on the Detroit Tigers' 2025 Opening Day roster was hardly a guarantee at the start of spring training.

Add in the fact that Detroit signed Gleyber Torres to be their starting second baseman and shifted Colt Keith over to first, and the Tigers literally don't even have a space for Torkelson on the diamond. If he wanted a spot on the 26-man roster, he was going to have to earn it at the plate this spring. Now that he has, the Tigers have some tough decisions to make.

Torkelson has slashed an impressive .269/.296/.615 with three home runs and four RBI across 10 Grapefruit League games for the Tigers this spring, logging time at first base and in the designated hitter slot. He has certainly been hitting like someone who doesn't want to go back to Triple-A; now, the Tigers just need to figure out where to put him.

Tigers insider's Opening Day roster prediction has Spencer Torkelson grabbing starting job

When making his projections for Detroit's 2025 Opening Day roster, Jason Beck of MLB.com boldly predicted that Torkelson would not only make the roster, but that he would make it as a starter in the DH spot.

"Torkelson has set himself up for a comeback story with the strongest Spring Training of his career," Beck wrote. "He could split time at DH with [Kerry] Carpenter while also providing an experienced defensive option at first base."

In this scenario, Torkelson would be a "starter" in the loosest sense of the word; essentially, he'd be a part-time DH while Carpenter rotates in and out when he's not playing the outfield. But that defensive experience Torkelson has at first base might come in handy for the Tigers, as Keith's move to first base has had what Beck refers to as "a learning curve" so far this spring.

Either way, good on Torkelson for putting in the work at the plate this spring to earn his spot on the 26-man roster. Hopefully, he can keep it for a full season this time.

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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.