Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson, the 2020 first overall pick, has broken out as a major piece in the Tigers lineup and one of the top first basemen in the league. Torkelson’s breakout can be attributed to not necessarily how hard he is hitting the ball, but the type of balls he puts in play. 

From 2022-24, Torkelson had 95 wRC+ and 0.8 fWAR in 361 games, where he was demoted in 2022 and 2024. Torkelson has posted a 146 wRC+ — highest for a Tiger with at least 50 plate appearances — and a 1.5 fWAR in 50 games. 

Batted Ball Data

Torkelson’s batted ball data across the board shows he’s routinely making solid contact with the ball, as he has a 46.9% Hard Hit% (71st percentile), 14.6% Barrel% (87th percentile), and 91.3 MPH Average Exit Velocity (74th percentile). These numbers are similar to Torkelson’s batted ball data from 2023, where he had a 108 wRC+, but what has led to an increase in Torkelson’s offensive value is his increase in the amount of fly balls he’s pulling in the air.

Torkelson is currently posting the highest AIR percentage of his career at 70%, but more importantly, his Pull Air % is sixth amongst qualified batters at 30.8%. The reason pulling fly balls has been key to Torkelson’s breakout is from 2022-2024, only 17.5% of batted balls were pulled fly balls, yet that 17.5% made 66% of home runs. Within that time period, pulled fly balls produced a 1.227 SLG and a .733 wOBA, while airballs that weren’t pulled posted a .527 SLG and .353 wOBA. 

Other notable players in the top 15 in Pull AIR% include, Cal Raleigh (171 wRC+), Kyle Tucker (157 wRC+), Alex Bregman (158 wRC+), Rhys Hoskins (144 wRC+), and Byron Buxton (130 wRC+). Adversely, of the bottom 15 in Pull AIR%, only four of them have a WRC+ above 100. 

Torkelson increased his Pull AIR% from 18th in ‘23 and 14th in ‘24, but also made a couple more improvements to his batted ball data. Not only is Torkelson’s FB% in 2025 53.1%, up from his career FB% of 46.1%, but his K% is also at a career low at 23.2%. The combination of improvements in these three areas is why Torkelson has been able to post a 148 wRC+ 51 games into the season and is on pace for 40 home runs.

With a career low K%, Torkelson is not only putting more balls in play, but when they are put in play, he’s hitting them in the air at the highest rate of his career. He’s also pulling those fly balls at the highest rate of his career, meaning Torkelson is producing the most ideal outcome for a hitter, a pulled flyball, at the highest rate of his career. 

In 2023, Torkelson was making hard contact at a very similar rate to 2025, but he ended the season with a 108 wRC+ and .213 ISO. The difference is, back then, Torkelson was lifting the ball far less than he is now, and for the balls he did lift, he also wasn’t pulling them as much as he is now. Not to mention, a career high in BB% and career low in K% and Chase% has made Torkelson a key power source in the first place Tigers lineup. 

End Of My Spencer Torkelson Rant

Spencer Torkelson crosses home plate in a game against the Dodgers in March. Torkelson’s ability to pull fly balls has led to a breakout season.

Whereas years past, Torkelson showed some signs of being able to be one of MLB’s premier power hitters, 2025 Torkelson has put all the pieces together to show he belongs in the big leagues.