The stakes are higher than ever for Spencer Torkelson this spring. Two years removed from a 30-homer season, the former first overall pick is fighting for a spot on the Tigers' roster. Which is why it raised some eyebrows Wednesday when Torkelson said he's not sweating the mechanics of his swing and that he doesn't even want to watch video to make potential adjustments.
"That’s not me," he said, via the Detroit News. "That’s not the way I roll. I’m pretty old-school in the fact that, you know, 'That felt good. The ball flight looked good. That must’ve worked.'"
On Thursday, A.J. Hinch put some context to Torkelson's comments: "I think he's going to watch video," the manager said with a laugh on 97.1 The Ticket. "I don’t think that’s what he meant to be drawn from that."
While Hinch clarified that "I wasn’t there when he said it and I haven’t talked to him about it, I think what he’s saying is that he’s trying to simplify and get as much stuff out of his head as he can."
"One of the things that Tork has battled over his few years here has been a little bit of an over-analysis or being obsessed with every single detail in the iPad or the video," Hinch said. "He’s going to watch video. Every single one of these players does. That’s how these guys can learn. I think going public with that, he’s committing to keeping it simple, having a few cues and then going to work."
Over his first three seasons in the majors, Torkelson hit .221 with a .693 OPS and was demoted twice to Triple-A Toledo. He enjoyed a power surge in the second half of 2023, but failed to carry it into 2024. He's often looked stiff at the plate, like he's overthinking every decision and movement -- paralysis by analysis. He's also been resistant to making changes at the Tigers' behest.
In reducing his reliance on film, the hope is that Torkelson can be less robotic in the box. More athletic.
One of the dangers, said Hinch, in watching too much video is that "you start to criticize your success, too, because, ‘Oh, I’m not in the perfect position,’ and you can still get a hit or hit the ball hard or swing at the right pitch."
"If you get too deep in the weeds with that, it can be counter-productive, and that’s what he’s saying. He’s not saying, 'I’m never going to pick up the iPad,' because you’re going to see footage of him, probably even this spring, with his head in an iPad. That’s not him going against his word. He’s just keeping it in perspective," said Hinch.
Torkelson, 25, needs a strong showing this spring to break camp with the Tigers. They have shifted Colt Keith to first base, meaning that Torkelson is battling players like Justyn-Henry Malloy and Wenceel Pérez for a spot on Hinch's bench.
He said the Tigers' message to him this offseason was, "Look, we’re doing this, but we still believe in you."
"And if I show up and perform, they’re going to find a spot, find a way. I believe in that," Torkelson said.
Somewhere inside of him remains the No. 1 pick who unleashed his big-league power in the summer of 2023, when he posted 23 homers and an .850 OPS over the final 83 games. It's a matter of tapping back into it, before it's too late.
"Mechanics are mechanics and there’s definitely things to clean up," said Torkelson. "But what got me here is the ability to hit. The natural, God-given ability to hit. That’s what I’m going to lean on. That’s what I’ve tried to lean on all offseason."