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Spencer Torkelson 2020 MLB Draft Profile
Spencer Torkelson is a first baseman from Petaluma, California and plays for the Arizona State Sun Devils. Torkelson is a top-three prospect and the #1 first base prospect of the 2020 MLB Draft.
Coming out of high school, Torkelson was the 208th-ranked prospect and the ninth-ranked third baseman in the country.
Since arriving on campus, Torkelson has become a two-time All-American. Torkelson was only the third player in Pac-12 history to have back-to-back 20+ home run seasons.
At 6’1” 220 pounds, Torkelson is a hitting machine that consistently makes hard contact. HE possesses great barrel control and draws a ton of walks. He can hit from to all fields and hit with power.
Arizona State’s Spencer Torkelson, likely one of the top picks in this summer’s MLB Draft, just absolutely annihilated a baseball. pic.twitter.com/RgnkHI4uh8
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) March 4, 2020
On defense, Torkelson is pretty limited to first base. He has some experience at third base but Torkelson is a first baseman at the next level.
As a freshman, Torkelson won the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Award and was listed as a Freshmen All-American on multiple media outlets. Torkelson batted slashed .320/.440/.743 as he hit 25 home runs, drove in 53 RBIs and had a 1.183 OPS.
As a sophomore, Torkelson continued to rake. He finished as a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award. He slashed .351/.446/.707 as he hit 23 home runs, drove in 66 RBIs and had a 1.153 OPS.
Strengths
- Big-time power
- 18.1 BB%
- Drives ball to all fields
- Consistently makes hard contact
- Can hit against any competition
- Run producer
- Solid defensively
- Great work ethic
Weaknesses
- Limited to first base
- Speed
Pro Comparison: Pete Alonso
Projection: Top 3 draft pick
Bottom Line
Some #MLBDraft video of Spencer Torkelson (1B, @ASU_Baseball). Open-side BP and game swings with the Collegiate National Team. Physical build, advanced approach (zone awareness/pitch recognition). For me, future plus hit w/ plus power. Ave defender w/ an average arm as a R/R 1B. pic.twitter.com/SfcvuiL9y8
— Burke Granger (@burkegranger) March 30, 2020
The Miami Marlins will have a lot of great options with the third pick of the 2020 MLB Draft. One options that might not be available for Miami is Spencer Torkelson. Most of the MLB mock drafts I’ve seen has Torkelson going #1 overall to the Detroit Tigers.
Torkelson is considered by many to be the best draft-eligible bat and for good reason—he has all the hitting tools to be an incredibly successful player at the Major League level. If Tork somehow is available with the third pick, I don’t see how the Fish can pass up on the Arizona State first baseman.