The Detroit Tigers didn’t make any surprises with their first overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft on Wednesday night. Tigers took the safe route, selecting Arizona States’ slugger Spencer Torkelson.

Torkelson was previously projected as the No.1 pick by most baseball analysts, who were impressed by his hitting power and above-average defense. The 20-year-old baseman spent two and a half seasons at college, where he posted .337 batting average with 54 home runs and 130 RBIs.

According to Tigers’ general manager Al Avila, the team selected Torkelson with the intention of making him their third baseman of the future. This is despite the fact that the player spent his entire college career playing first base.

“We know he can play first, but our scouts strongly feel that he can play third base, and that’s our intent at this point,” said Avila. “He’s exactly the type of player we hoped would be there with the first pick. At this point, we’re going to send him out as a third baseman.”

Torkelson himself also doesn’t seem to oppose to the idea.

“It’s not a shock to me. I prided myself as a baseball player, and a baseball player isn’t stuck at one position,” said Torkelson.

By selecting Spencer Torkelson, Detroit Tigers did not only make the safest pick but also addressed their need for power. The Tigers were at the bottom of AL in runs and home runs last season, so having powerful hitter like Torkelson should definitely help them out. He also fits with the team’s up-and-coming young core.

Elsewhere in the draft, Baltimore Orioles selected Arkansas’ outfielder Heston Kjerstad with the second overall pick, while Miami Marlins went pitcher with No.3 and took right-hander Max Meyer. Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays rounded up the top five selections, drafting left-handed pitcher Asa Lacy of Texas A&M and Vanderbilt’s shortstop Austin Martin respectively.

The post Tigers Select Arizona States’ Spencer Torkelson First Overall in 2020 MLB Draft appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Major League Baseball, whose 2020 season is currently on hold thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that pushed back its Opening Day, has announced yet another alteration to its plans thanks to this year’s circumstances.

The 2020 MLB Draft, which was scheduled to feature 40 rounds as it has every year since the Draft was cut from 50 rounds in 2012, will only have 5 rounds for a total of under 200 picks.

An agreement that Major League Baseball reached with the MLB Players’ Association during the work suspension allowed for them to reduce this year’s draft in order to save money for teams that are suffering financially thanks to the lack of game action.

Some of the new rules that apply to this year’s reduced draft include a mechanism that allows teams to pay signing bonuses in a gradual fashion, only requiring them to fully pay the players that they sign by summer 2022.

In addition, players who are not selected in this year’s draft will only be allowed to sign for a maximum amount of $20,000 in order to continue their professional careers.

This move is expected to have a significant effect on the structure of Minor League Baseball and team farm systems in the future, as the number of players that they will add this summer will fall sharply.

The post 2020 MLB Draft to Feature Only 5 Rounds appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Detroit Tigers didn’t make any surprises with their first overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft on Wednesday night. Tigers took the safe route, selecting Arizona States’ slugger Spencer Torkelson.

Torkelson was previously projected as the No.1 pick by most baseball analysts, who were impressed by his hitting power and above-average defense. The 20-year-old baseman spent two and a half seasons at college, where he posted .337 batting average with 54 home runs and 130 RBIs.

According to Tigers’ general manager Al Avila, the team selected Torkelson with the intention of making him their third baseman of the future. This is despite the fact that the player spent his entire college career playing first base.

“We know he can play first, but our scouts strongly feel that he can play third base, and that’s our intent at this point,” said Avila. “He’s exactly the type of player we hoped would be there with the first pick. At this point, we’re going to send him out as a third baseman.”

Torkelson himself also doesn’t seem to oppose to the idea.

“It’s not a shock to me. I prided myself as a baseball player, and a baseball player isn’t stuck at one position,” said Torkelson.

By selecting Spencer Torkelson, Detroit Tigers did not only make the safest pick but also addressed their need for power. The Tigers were at the bottom of AL in runs and home runs last season, so having powerful hitter like Torkelson should definitely help them out. He also fits with the team’s up-and-coming young core.

Elsewhere in the draft, Baltimore Orioles selected Arkansas’ outfielder Heston Kjerstad with the second overall pick, while Miami Marlins went pitcher with No.3 and took right-hander Max Meyer. Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays rounded up the top five selections, drafting left-handed pitcher Asa Lacy of Texas A&M and Vanderbilt’s shortstop Austin Martin respectively.

The post Tigers Select Arizona States’ Spencer Torkelson First Overall in 2020 MLB Draft appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Major League Baseball, whose 2020 season is currently on hold thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that pushed back its Opening Day, has announced yet another alteration to its plans thanks to this year’s circumstances.

The 2020 MLB Draft, which was scheduled to feature 40 rounds as it has every year since the Draft was cut from 50 rounds in 2012, will only have 5 rounds for a total of under 200 picks.

An agreement that Major League Baseball reached with the MLB Players’ Association during the work suspension allowed for them to reduce this year’s draft in order to save money for teams that are suffering financially thanks to the lack of game action.

Some of the new rules that apply to this year’s reduced draft include a mechanism that allows teams to pay signing bonuses in a gradual fashion, only requiring them to fully pay the players that they sign by summer 2022.

In addition, players who are not selected in this year’s draft will only be allowed to sign for a maximum amount of $20,000 in order to continue their professional careers.

This move is expected to have a significant effect on the structure of Minor League Baseball and team farm systems in the future, as the number of players that they will add this summer will fall sharply.

The post 2020 MLB Draft to Feature Only 5 Rounds appeared first on SportzBonanza.