Born and raised in the San Francisco area, Spencer Torkelson grew up rooting for the 49ers. But the Tigers first baseman couldn't help but pull for Detroit when his favorite team hosted the Lions in the NFC championship game last month.
Torkelson, after two seasons in Detroit, said it was "so exciting and so great to watch" the city throw itself behind the Lions, and a reminder of what awaits the Tigers whenever they return to the playoffs themselves.
"The last game they played was against my all-time favorite team the 49ers and I had a lot of family members not really happy with me because I was watching the game in a Goff jersey rooting for Detroit," Torkelson said with a laugh Wednesday on 97.1 The Ticket. "That was a hell of a game. It was just super exciting to see the city rally around those guys. And to see the way they played and their drive and their work ethic was really special."
The Lions' run ended in 34-31 loss to the 49ers, but not before they won the NFC North for the first time ever and won a playoff game for the first time in 32 years. The Tigers are stuck in a nine-year playoff drought of their own, tied with the Angels for the longest in the majors. Led by a young core headlined by Torkelson, Riley Greene and burgeoning ace Tarik Skubal, this could be the year they finally break through.
If it is, a loyal fanbase will be ready to embrace them.
"It definitely motivates you, just to see the way the city rallies behind a team and shows up and is just absolutely diehard for a winning team," Torkelson said. "It gets you out of bed on a tough day or little things like that -- you got a little something extra to play for. It's awesome."
