NEW YORK – The Detroit Tigers selected Arizona State slugger Spencer Torkelson with the No. 1 pick Wednesday night in the Major League Baseball amateur draft.The baseball-bashing Torkelson played first base in college, but was announced as a third baseman by Commissioner Rob Manfred.
After having the majors’ worst record last season, Detroit opened the draft for the second time in three years. The Tigers took Auburn right-hander Casey Mize in 2018, and now they’ve got a powerful bat that could anchor their lineup for years to come to go along with an arm they hope is a future ace.This year’s draft was originally scheduled to be held for the first time in Omaha, Nebraska, as a lead-in to the College World Series.