Tigers' unheralded star just keeps hitting

The 2020 first overall pick out of the baseball factory that is Arizona State is struggling mightily, while a player who was not drafted until the 19th round (562nd selection) out of Virginia Tech in 2019 continues to thrive.

So is the case of first baseman Spencer Torkelson and outfielder Kerry Carpenter of the Detroit Tigers.

Torkelson, 24, was clearly overmatched as a rookie in 2022 — eight home runs, 28 RBI and a .203/.285/.604 slash line in 404 plate appearances — and was sent to the minors during the season. He bounced back last season with 31 home runs and 94 RBI. Torkelson only hit .233, but from his earliest time in the minors, it was projected that he would hit for a lot of power with a relatively low batting average in the majors. He also struck out 171 times.

However, 2024 has been a disaster so far.

Torkelson does not have a home run with 12 RBI and a .219 average in 29 games. His 27 strikeouts are not as concerning as the number of times he has either popped the ball up or hit weak fly balls. 

Then there's the 26-year-old Carpenter.

He spent an unheralded three seasons in the minors, in which he immediately and consistently demonstrated the ability to hit — and hit with power. Subsequently, Carpenter was called up during the 2022 season. After hitting 30 home runs combined at the Double-A and Triple-A levels, he hit six more in 31 games with the Tigers along with a .252 average, .485 slugging percentage and .795 OPS.

And in spending most of last season in the majors in 2023, Carpenter had 20 home runs, 64 RBI and hit .278 with an .811 OPS in 118 games.

He has not been spectacular this season, but has respectable numbers with three homers, 15 RBI and a .269 average. 

Torkelson could permanently find his way as a major leaguer, and Carpenter's production might fall off. However, at this point, this seems to be one of those classic cases of a prospect who no one thought much of developing into a better player than a much-publicized high draft pick.