Spencer

Torkelson

He also walked today. Torkelson, who started off quite nicely after returning from Triple-A last month, had been 3-for-29 with no extra-base hits and 12 strikeouts in his previous seven games.

Torkelson is said to be one of a few Tigers that are dealing with an illness following a trip to the west coast. Andy Ibáñez has replaced him in the lineup playing first base and batting sixth. Torkelson’s illness isn’t expected to keep him out of the lineup for long, though it’s unclear if he’s available to pinch hit off the bench on Tuesday.

Torkelson got off to a hot start following his return to the major, but all of a sudden he’s 6-for-30 (.200) with 16 strikeouts and two walks in his last nine games. It’s a small sample size, but when a player is sent down for two and a half months in the middle of the season, small samples are all we have left. Torkelson can still provide power, but he might be a drag on batting averages the rest of the way.

Torkelson’s home run was his eighth of the season. He hit a two-run shot off Rich Hill in the fifth inning. Torkelson’s hit was the Tigers’ first of the game and it gave them a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. He’s 17-for-55 (.309) with four home runs and 10 RBI in 15 games since he was recalled from Triple-A. Torkelson isn’t going to steal bases, but he’s hot at the plate right now and given his power he has to be rostered in all formats at this point.

Torkelson wasted absolutely no time in this one, jumping on a first-pitch fastball from Griffin Canning in the second inning and clobbering a 408-foot (106.1-mph EV) two-run shot that gave the Tigers an early 2-0 lead. He also singled in the ballgame, finishing the night 2-for-3. Since returning from Triple-A Toledo on August 17, Torkelson had hit .333 (14-for-42) with three homers and eight RBI in his first 11 games.

The home run was Torkelson’s sixth of the year. He hit a go-ahead three-run home run off Justin Anderson in the seventh inning. Torkelson is 12-for-36 (.333) with two home runs and six RBI in nine games since returning from the minor leagues. He was sent down in early June when he was hitting .201 with four home runs in 53 games. It’s a small sample of at-bats, but there’s no doubt Torkelson has looked better at the plate since he was called up.

Torkelson drove in the only two runs of the game with a two-run shot off Justin Steele. The 24-year-old also drew a walk to improve his still ugly slash to .217/.285/.367. He has looked good since being promoted back to Detroit on Saturday, however, and it’s never going to be a question of talent with Torkelson.

Torkelson had a good day at the plate in his first game back with the Tigers since June 1. He doubled to lead off the second inning and scored on a base hit by Zach McKinstry. Torkelson later knocked a triple in the sixth, then reached for a third time with a walk in the eighth. The 24-year-old first baseman will look to finish strong after posting just a .597 OPS before earning a demotion to Triple-A, where he slugged 11 homers over 58 games, but posted a strikeout rate of 30 percent.

Torkelson returns to Detroit’s lineup for Saturday’s contest against the Yankees following a 58-game stint at Triple-A Toledo where he batted .239 (54-for-226) with 11 home runs. The 24-year-old former top overall pick struggled earlier this year with the Tigers after launching 31 round-trippers last year. He’s earned another shot in Detroit, but that doesn’t mean he should be immediately added to fantasy rosters, especially in shallow mixed leagues.

Torkelson might be moving closer to earning another shot with the Tigers. He’s still striking out too much, but with an OPS over 1.000 during the last three weeks, he’s up to .248/.365/.456 for Toledo, and it’s not like Bligh Madris has established himself at first base in Detroit.