With their season long off the rails, the question late in the season for the Detroit Tigers became whether they would get the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.
A historically bad Tigers team appeared to be a safe bet except for the fact that the Baltimore Orioles were nearly as bad.
But the Tigers (46-112) recently wrapped up the worst record in baseball and earned the coveted top draft pick.
With the Tigers and Orioles compiling losses at a rapid rate, a popular hashtag emerged on Twitter: #TankforTorkelson
That is in reference to Arizona State superstar first baseman Spencer Torkelson, who is presumed to be one of the top picks in this year's draft.
Torkelson would seem to be a perfect fit for the Tigers. After many years of taking top-flight pitching, the Tigers could use a superstar bat. Torkelson fits the mold and also plays a position that the Tigers desperately need. The organization has a glaring lack of first base prospects.
Torkelson is a right-handed power bat that has been graded out as a 70 for raw power by scouts. He hit 25 homers as a freshman to break the Sun Devils' single season freshman mark previously held by Barry Bonds.
He would appear to be the most-likely fit for the Tigers.
But there are other options:
Emerson Hancock, RHP, University of Georgia: Hancock is a right-hander that can reach the upper 90s with his fastball and is considered the top arm in the draft. The Tigers though have a surplus of pitching in the minors at the moment and taking another pitcher would not be popular among fans. That being said, Hancock projects as a quality starter down the road.
Austin Martin, 3B, Vanderbilt: While Torkelson has the power, some consider Martin the most polished hitter at the college level right now. He is the reigning batting champion in the SEC, the best overall conference in college baseball, after hitting .392. He has played third base at Vanderbilt, but has some versatility to potentially play second base or even shortstop.
Garrett Mitchell, OF, UCLA: Mitchell is a left-handed bat that is considered by some to have a more polished overall game than Torkelson and Martin. He hit .349 as a sophomore and stole 26 bases. Like Torkelson and Martin, he has shown some power potential with his bat, but his potential as a plus defensive center fielder makes him an intriguing prospect.
Some high school prospects of note include right-handed pitchers Jared Kelley (Refugio High School, Texas) and Mick Abel (Beaverton Jesuit High School, Ore.). Austin Hendrick, an outfielder from West Allegheny High School in Pennsylvania, is one of the top high school position players.
First Published September 27, 2019, 7:14 p.m.
