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Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson needs to earn spot on Opening Day roster
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- Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson needs to earn spot on Opening Day roster
DALLAS — The Detroit Tigers aren't saying it out loud.
But in every other way, they're saying that first baseman Spencer Torkelson isn't guaranteed to make the 2025 Opening Day roster. He needs to earn his roster spot in spring training, unlike Riley Greene , Kerry Carpenter and Parker Meadows .
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Torkelson — the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft — has been the everyday first baseman for the Tigers throughout the past three seasons, aside from two performance-related demotions to Triple-A Toledo.
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"The performance has to get better," president of baseball operations Scott Harris said of the first base situation Monday at the Winter Meetings, located at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, "and it's not just offensive performance. It's defensive performance, too. We're exploring ways to get better in all aspects of our team."
Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson (20) reacts after struck out against Cleveland Guardians during the second inning at Game 5 of ALDS at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024.
The Tigers could sign Paul Goldschmidt , a 37-year-old former MVP who will settle for a one-year contract. The Tigers could trade for Yandy Díaz , a 33-year-old pure hitter with two years of team control remaining.
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Or the Tigers could run it back with Torkelson.
All options are on the table.
"He was the No. 1 overall pick," Harris said of Torkelson on Monday during an MLB Network interview. "He's immensely talented. Just like these young guys, we have to stick with him. We have to keep finding ways to get a little bit more out of him."
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The easiest solution is the Tigers prepare for Torkelson to show up to spring training — the first full-squad workout is Feb. 17 — with significant adjustments on offense and defense, but at this point in the Tigers' competitive cycle and Torkelson's work history, they have to prepare for every possible scenario.
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That's because Torkelson has nearly 1,500 plate appearances in his three-year MLB career, hitting just .219 with a .693 OPS in 361 games. He is a below-average defender, worth minus-12 defensive runs saved in his career, but he made improvements at first base in the final two months of last season.
Torkelson can't afford another demotion in 2025, which would be his third in four seasons.
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Likewise, the Tigers can't afford to be left empty handed again at the first base position, not like they were with Mark Canha and Bligh Madris in 2024.
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"We have to focus on both paths here," Harris said, referencing first base. "The first path is getting the absolute most out of the players we have. We have to be full steam ahead on that path. Similarly, our job is to find ways to add to this organization externally, add players that can help us build upon the talent base that we already have. We'll see how it goes the rest of the offseason, but we have to do both."
From left, Detroit Tigers shortstop Trey Sweeney (27), third baseman Matt Vierling (8), first baseman Spencer Torkelson (20) and second base Colt Keith (33) watch during a pitching change during the seventh inning at Game 5 of ALDS at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024.
To continue internal development, the Tigers instructed second baseman Colt Keith and outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy to take ground balls at first base this offseason in hopes of adding defensive versatility in the 2025 season.
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If the Tigers acquire a third baseman, then Jace Jung could return to his natural second base position and Keith could play first base, pushing Torkelson aside.
Another option is to acquire a first baseman via free agency or trade, such as Goldschmidt or Díaz, which would push Torkelson aside, keep Keith at second base and cement a platoon of Jung and Matt Vierling at third base.
Or the Tigers can count on Torkelson again.
"We build a ton of versatility in our roster for a reason," Harris said, when asked how Torkelson's presence impacts negotiations with free-agent first basemen. "We can fit offensive performers in many different ways into our group given the versatility we've built this roster with."
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Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple Podcasts , Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers 1B Spencer Torkelson needs to earn spot for Opening Day
