{"id":152885,"date":"2025-07-05T03:59:16","date_gmt":"2025-07-05T03:59:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/152885\/"},"modified":"2025-07-05T03:59:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-05T03:59:16","slug":"baseball-is-changing-and-spencer-torkelsons-3-run-homer-vs-the-nationals-proves-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/152885\/","title":{"rendered":"Baseball is changing, and Spencer Torkelson’s 3-run homer vs. the Nationals proves it"},"content":{"rendered":"

CLEVELAND \u2014 On the eighth pitch of a 10-pitch at-bat in the first inning Thursday, July 3, Spencer Torkelson took ball three from Washington Nationals<\/a> right-hander Jake Irvin. The pitch was low and inside, an 85.8 mph slider. <\/p>\n

Two pitches later, the Detroit Tigers<\/a> first baseman destroyed a 92.2 mph four-seam fastball that was down and close to the middle. The ball landed beyond the deepest part of center field, some 428 feet away. <\/p>\n

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The three-run shot gave the Tigers a temporary lead in the rubber game against the Nationals. But for a slugger raised in the era of taking three \u201cA\u201d swings \u2014 aka, full swings \u2014 per at-bat, A.J. Hinch was most proud of that ball Torkelson took deep into the epic battle. <\/p>\n

\u201cLike it or don\u2019t like it \u2014 (and) talk about (how) the game has evolved, and offensive profiles have changed \u2014 he’s going to get a good swing off,\u201d the Tigers manager said. <\/p>\n

In other words, Torkelson, like so many young sluggers of this era, is going to be aggressive, and will treat a two-strike swing no differently than a 0-0 swing. Which is why Hinch mentioned the ball he took.<\/p>\n

\"Spencer<\/p>\n

Spencer Torkelson of the Detroit Tigers celebrates his three-run home run in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington on July 3, 2025.<\/p>\n

TIME TO PANIC? No excuses for scuffling Detroit Tigers. <\/a><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat I was most proud of was … he stayed disciplined,\u201d Hinch said Friday, July 4, recounting Torkelson\u2019s tension-filled at-bat.<\/p>\n

He took the ball while in \u201cA\u201d swing mode. He also fought off a few tough pitches. Or \u201cspoiled\u201d them, as Hinch described.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere’s an argument that certain times (you need) to cut the swing down and take what the pitcher gives you,\u201d Hinch said.<\/p>\n

And yet?<\/p>\n

Torkelson is producing by making sure he gets full swings in when he steps to the plate. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe’s going to try to do damage every time he takes a swing,\u201d Hinch said. \u201cIt’s hard to argue with it. It\u2019s how (players) get paid. At the end of the day, doing damage gets you paid. It also produces runs. It always has, but it\u2019s something that\u2019s at the forefront in players’ minds.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Celebrate 125 seasons of the Tigers with our new book!<\/a><\/p>\n

More than ever. Mostly because everyone seems to throw mid-90s or above. It feels like that anyway. <\/p>\n

As Hinch noted, there are no free pitches anymore. No more free pitches on a 3-0 count. No free breaking balls in the strike zone to start an at-bat. Hitters can\u2019t count on first-pitch strikes, because so many pitchers know they have the variety of stuff \u2014 and the velocity \u2014 to find their way out anyway. <\/p>\n

Torkelson\u2019s three-run homer Thursday was the latest example of the post-postmodern hitter, unafraid to swing at any point, on any count. <\/p>\n

Still, the 10-pitch at-bat played out like high drama, and when Torkelson was asked about it after the game, he quietly smiled. He couldn\u2019t remember another at-bat quite like it in his career.<\/p>\n

\"Detroit<\/p>\n

Detroit Tigers pitcher Alex Lange, left, talks to pitcher Tarik Skubal during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.<\/p>\n

Alex Lange injury update<\/p>\n

Alex Lange continues to progress. The right-handed reliever made his third appearance for Triple-A Toledo earlier in the week. <\/p>\n

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\u201c(He) is right in the middle of spring training, to put it in perspective,\u201d Hinch said. \u201cI would say that he is reporting that he\u2019s feeling better. He’s using his pitches. He’s taking incremental steps.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lange hasn\u2019t pitched since May 22, 2024, when he tore his lat muscle. He had surgery to repair the tear last year, and the rehab process has been slow. <\/p>\n

Contact Shawn Windsor:\u00a0swindsor@freepress.com<\/a>. Follow him\u00a0@shawnwindsor<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers 1B Spencer Torkelson represents new era of MLB hitting<\/a><\/p>\n