It’s only two games.
That was the immediate phrase uttered by both Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch and Spencer Torkelson when asked if the first baseman was turning a corner with his bat.
Two games or not, both are happy to see the success Torkelson has had to start the Tigers’ most recent series against the Minnesota Twins.
“It’s definitely nice to see the hits fall,” Torkelson said after the 8-2 loss in Game 1 of Tuesday’s doubleheader. “I’d like them to contribute to more wins, but that wasn’t the outcome today.”
In the nightcap, the rookie cooled down a bit, going 0-for-3 with a walk in the Tigers’ 4-0 win.
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Torkelson, the Tigers’ No. 1 overall pick in 2020, fast-tracked to the big leagues. After losing what would’ve been his first professional season due to the COVID-19 pandemic (he spent that year training at the alternate site), he played 31 games in Single-A, 50 in Double-A and 40 in Triple-A.
He hit .268 in Erie and .231 in Toledo but his power numbers (.933 and .881 OPS respectively) were always good. So while there had been struggles — relative to his record-setting career at Arizona State — he’d never faced adversity like earlier this season.
From April 27 to May 12, the 22-year-old went 2-for-34 with no-extra base hits, one run scored, five walks and 17 strikeouts as his batting average fell from .224 to a season-low .146.
“This game can knock you down fast if you let it, so I think the sameness is greatness,” Torkelson said of his mentality to push through his slump. “Just be you, stay the course, work hard and the results are going to happen.”
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Since May 13, he’s 15-for-47 (.319) with one home run, five doubles, six walks and eight strikeouts. His average is back up to .206, he three-hit games each of the past two days, has reached base in 10 of his past 11 games and his OPS is now back up to .632.
It’s not yet anything to write home about, but it’s a start.
“I’ve stayed very firm with you guys that he’s fine, he’s just learning and growing but he’s a young kid,” Hinch said. “I love the success is coming, but his approach has never wavered. Demeanor, approach, preparation, all that stuff is really good
“There’s no panic with Tork, we never panicked about him. I like the fact he’s barreling balls to all parts of the field, that’s good. His defense has been way better than we’ve talked about …Tork is a really good player, he’s learning a lot, still has a lot to learn but we’re certainly happy with him.”
The Tigers as a team have struggled offensively all season. They’re last in runs scored and home runs. Torkelson struggled to put his finger on exactly what has gone better lately.
He said he’s seeing the ball well, but he didn’t make any overhauls with his swing or any major adjustments.
“It’s baseball,” he said. “You’ll feel amazing one day and you’ll go 0-for-5 and then you’ll feel terrible and you’ll get two broken bat hits. It’s just a crazy game and you have to stay the course, trust your ability and go out there and play.”
Torkelson also said baseball is about comfort. He joked that he loves playing with Kody Clemens (son of Roger Clemens, who made his MLB debut in Game 2 on Tuesday night) and that’s part of the secret.
Since his arrival, he’s 6-for-11.
“I feel like I rake with him on my team,” he joked. “I told him, you and Riley (Greene) I love when you’re on my team.”
So, when Greene comes up to make his MLB debut with the Tigers, does that mean we can expect four-hit games from Torkelson?
“Yes,” he joked. “Maybe five.”
Contact Tony Garcia at apgarcia@freepress.com. Follow him on twitter at @realtonygarcia.