The Texas Rangers have won the World Series, and the off-season is now upon us. For nearly a decade, the off-season is what Tigers fans had to look forward to most. However, there was a lot to like this season. There’s good reason to be optimistic heading into 2024 with a weak division up for grabs. Out of everything that looked good for the Tigers, first baseman Spencer Torkelson was the biggest bright spot for them this season. After a less-than-impressive rookie year, Tigers fans know they have a centerpiece to build around. Torkelson exploded offensively in year two, and because of that, he is a finalist to win an American League Silver Slugger Award. After seeing incredible improvement from the former first overall pick in his second season, it’s scary to think about how great he can be going forward as he is only going to get better.
Spencer Torkelson By The Numbers:
To give you an idea of how much he improved this season, here are his rookie stats: in 110 games played (was called down to Triple-A mid-season after starting the year with the team, but did make his way back to the Tigers later in the year), he slashed .203/.228/.319, with just eight home runs, 25 extra-base hits, and 28 RBIs.
In his breakout season in 2023, Torkelson looked like the version of himself we had been waiting for. He was very dependable, as he played in all but three games this year. In 159 games, he slashed .223/.313./.446, with 31 home runs, 66 extra-base hits, and 94 RBIs.
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