Spencer Torkelson showed up to spring training last year with zero at-bats as a pro. He left with a bunch of strikeouts. He'll return this year with 30 home runs and the tools to making the Tigers' Opening Day roster.
"It was definitely an adjustment period," Torkelson said Thursday on 97.1 The Ticket. "I learned you can't just jump right into professional baseball at pretty much the highest level in major league spring training, just coming out of college. It's going to be an adjustment, and I think the good players make that adjustment fast and realize what they need to do to be better and succeed at that level."
That was the theme of Torkelson's season, adjust and succeed. Succeed and adjust. He was in High-A West Michigan in May, Double-A Erie by June and Triple-A Toledo by August. Detroit awaits. The Tigers will give Torkelson and fellow top prospect Riley Greene every chance to make the team this spring, and Torkelson plans to give them every reason to keep him. But he has bigger goals than simply securing a spot in the bigs.
"I obviously want to make the major leagues, but that's not the ultimate goal," Torkelson said. "My ultimate goal is to put in the work in the offseason and in spring training to keep developing my ability to not only make the roster, but to help the team win when I'm there. So there's no timetable. It's just taking it day by day, grinding it out and doing what I can to be a big part of a winning team."
So Torkelson has spent his winter sweating in the Arizona heat. He's lifting weights at his new home five times a week. He's hitting balls and taking grounders at his old home up to six times a week; Arizona State's baseball facility doubles as his second home. He's losing weight and adding muscle. He's also doing daily rehab on his right ankle after twisting it on the bases in the Arizona Fall League -- and allowing every pitcher a reprieve.
"It's coming along great," Torkelson said. "It will definitely be 100 percent by spring training."
The training was last year. This is his test. The Tigers have a spot for Torkelson at first base, but only if he grabs it. They will pressure him and see how he responds. If he hits one pitcher, they'll make him hit another. If he hits a few pitchers, they'll make him hit better pitchers. They will keep raising the bar to Detroit until Torkelson clears it or lands in Toledo.
Ideally, he will be here in April. Realistically, it might take a month or two. It really doesn't matter to Torkelson, whose dreams in The Show only begin with showing up.