Draft Prospect Series: Spencer Torkelson

Spencer Torkelson — nicknamed “Tork” — is a 20 year old college prospect who is currently attending Arizona State University. Torkelson is a first baseman with experience in the outfield, and is expected to be one of the top selections in the 2020 draft.

Torkelson is arguably the best hitter in the 2020 class, holding a career .337 batting average during his time at Arizona State. He has managed to impress scouts time and time again, not only during the regular season, but also in the highly touted cape cod league. In the cut short 2020 season, Torkelson was raking again, hitting for a .340 average alongside 6 home runs in only 50 at bats. In his two full seasons, Torkelson hit 25 home runs in his rookie year, and 23 in his second year, making him the first pac-12 player to lead the league in home runs in back to back seasons since Michael Conforto (NY Mets) over 2012 and 2013. Due to the short season, Torkelson will miss his chance at taking the all-time college home run record, only falling short by 2.

Torkelson has a serious shot at being taken with the number one overall pick, held by the Detroit Tigers. Currently, Austin Martin (Vanderbuilt) is the consensus first overall pick, but the Tigers could go in either direction. The Blue Jays (who hold the fifth overall pick) are rumored to be targeting a pitcher yet again with their first round pick, but if one of the best power hitters the draft has seen in years falls to their pick, it would be difficult to envision them going in another direction. At this point, it seems likely that if the Jays have the opportunity to draft Torkelson, they likely would despite not being a positional priority. It is just too difficult to let a rare talent like this slip by when given the opportunity.

Most experts have Torkelson going second or third to the Orioles or Marlins, but if he falls to the Jays, it shouldn’t be a surprise to see him in Dunedin by the end of 2020.