Tigers sign No. 1 draft pick to record bonus
The Detroit Tigers wrapped up the team’s entire 2020 Major League Baseball draft class on Tuesday by signing Spencer Torkelson, who was the first pick overall in the draft.
The 20-year-old Torkelson, who played first base at Arizona State University and will be converted to third base with the Tigers, agreed to a reported record US$8,416,300 signing bonus.
“It’s an exciting time in Detroit and it’s an honour to join the ride,” Torkelson said.
The six-foot-two, 215pound Torkelson was passed over in his first trip through the MLB draft as a highschool senior, but dominated NCAA pitching over parts of three seasons at Arizona State with a .337 career average, 54 home runs, 33 doubles and a walk-to-strikeout ratio of 110-to-104 in 628 college atbats while driving in 130 runs in 129 games.
“Getting undrafted out of high school was the best thing to ever happen to me,” Torkelson said. “It made me work so much harder.”
His impact at the collegiate level was immediate. Torkelson led the NCAA with 25 home runs, two more than any other player and just one shy of the NCAA freshman record. He also easily surpassed the previous Arizona State freshman record of 11 home runs in a season set by Barry Bonds in 1983. Torkelson was a unanimous All-american and was selected to play for the U.S. Collegiate National Team in 2018 and 2019.
“Being where I am now, it’s really special,” Torkelson said. “I’ve always believed in my ability.”
All six of Detroit’s draft picks have come to terms, with Torkelson joining Ohio State University catcher Dillon Dingler, Louisiana State University outfielder Daniel Cabrera, Rice University shortstop Trei Cruz, who was born in Toronto, Arizona State University third baseman Gage Workman and Mississippi high school shortstop Colt Keith.
Torkelson will join Dingler in the Tigers’ player pool for Summer Camp 2020, which gets underway on Friday at Comerica Park.
On Wednesday, the Tigers also announced the signing of four college free agents, who were passed over in the draft.
The club agreed to terms with Loyola Marymount University first baseman Trevin Esquerra, Central Florida University right-handed pitcher Carson King, and outfielders Austin Langworthy, who played at the University of Florida, and D.J. Poteet, of Wake Forest University.