The top two Tigers prospects both enjoyed huge days at the plate on Thursday, as Double-A Erie slugged its way to a 15-1 victory over Altoona in the first game of a seven-inning doubleheader and followed it with a 6-0 win in the nightcap at UPMC Park in Erie, Pa.
Torkelson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 Draft, got the party started in the first inning with a two-run homer, his 17th of the season and 12th in 47 games since a promotion to Erie in mid-June. Torkelson also singled twice in that third-inning outburst, while Greene provided the biggest blow with a grand slam to right field. It was the 13th homer in 80 Double-A games this season for Greene, the fifth overall pick of the 2019 Draft.
Torkelson tacked on a two-run double in the sixth, finishing 4-for-4 with three runs scored and four RBIs, raising his OPS with the SeaWolves to .915. Greene was 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBIs, boosting his OPS to .869.
Detroit’s top prospects — especially Torkelson — didn’t cool down after the early game. Erie’s top third of the order belted back-to-back-to-back homers to open the bottom of the first inning in the second game on Thursday. Greene started the barrage with a leadoff blast to left-center field, and No. 19 Tigers prospect Ryan Kriedler followed with one of his own to left-center, too. Torkelson rounded out the shots with his 13th homer of the year on a shot to center to continue his big day and stake Erie to a 3-0 lead.
Torkelson singled on a liner to right in the fourth inning and then finished off his monster doubleheader with a solo shot to left in the fifth. All told, the Arizona State product went 7-for-7 with three home runs, a double, six RBIs and five runs scored.
Since joining the SeaWolves on June 15, Torkelson has batted .271/.384/.584 in 48 games. So far, his August has been most impressive. After Thursday’s contests, the corner infielder boasts a .342/.444/.737 slash line in 10 games this month and has multiple hits in three of his last four games.