After appearing to break out in 2023, Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson has taken a step back this season and was optioned to triple-A on Sunday.
Torkelson had been out of the lineup in two of Detroit’s last three games before being sent down.
The 24-year-old has slashed .201/.266/.330 in 54 games in 2024 with four home runs and 15 doubles.
Torkelson was the first-overall pick of the 2020 draft and made his MLB debut in 2022. In his rookie campaign, the six-foot-one first baseman was also sent down to the minors before returning in September.
Last season, Torkelson hit 31 home runs, collected 94 RBIs and elevated his play in the second half of the season. After the All-Star break, he hit 19 homers and increased his slugging percentage by nearly 100 points.
He also ranked among the league leaders in barrel rate and hard-hit percentage, but his quality of contact has taken a dip so far this year.
The Tigers selected the contract of outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy from triple-A to take Torkelson’s spot on the MLB roster and designated infielder Buddy Kennedy for assignment.
Detroit enters play Monday with a 29-30 record, sitting 4.0 games back of the final American League wild-card spot.