LAKELAND, Fla. — Spencer Torkelson stood near first base.
The 2020 No. 1 overall pick was the only first baseman present — no Miguel Cabrera in sight — as the Detroit Tigers went through infield drills Sunday on MLB’s mandatory report date for spring training.
Third baseman Jeimer Candelario took ground balls at the hot corner, and new shortstop Javier Baez did the same at his position. A group of second basemen, including Isaac Paredes and Willi Castro, managed the right side of the middle infield. The Tigers are waiting on the arrival of second baseman Jonathan Schoop, traveling from Curaçao.
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“Tork and Greene are going to have a chance to get a good look,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said of his top prospects, Torkelson and outfielder Riley Greene. “On one hand, it’s a great opportunity to make the team. On the other hand, it’s not the end-all, be-all whether they break with us or not. We’ll make decisions at the end of camp that we think is best for us.”
Cabrera, who played 44 games at first base last season, didn’t take the field.
Instead, he spent his morning in the batting cages.
One of Cabrera’s favorite baseball activities is playing first base. Before last season, the 38-year-old designated hitter pleaded to return to his old position; Hinch granted his request but closely monitored his health.
This season, Cabrera doesn’t have any first-base expectations.
“I don’t know because we want Torkelson in the lineup,” Cabrera said. “I’ll take the DH spot. I’ll talk to the manager and see what his plans are, but I am open to anything. I’m just here to help the team win.”
Torkelson, a right-handed hitter, completed his first professional season in 2021. He hit .267 with 29 doubles, 30 home runs, 91 RBIs, 77 walks and 114 strikeouts in 121 games for High-A West Michigan (31 games), Double-A Erie (50 games) and Triple-A Toledo (40 games).
The 22-year-old hit .312 with five homers for the Whitecaps, .263 with 14 homers for the SeaWolves and .238 with 11 homers for the Mud Hens.
“They’re really good,” Cabrera said of Torkelson and Greene. “You ever seen these guys play? They’re really good. They’re going to mean a lot to our team. Hopefully, they’re going to be ready for Opening Day, and hopefully, we have those two guys in the lineup.”
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Greene, a lefty hitter, posted a .301 batting average with 25 doubles, 24 homers, 84 RBIs, 63 walks and 153 strikeouts in 124 games for Double-A Erie (84 games) and Triple-A Toledo (40 games).
The 21-year-old — who was the No. 5 overall draft pick in 2019 — hit .298 with 16 homers for the SeaWolves and .308 with eight homers for the Mud Hens. It was his second professional season.
Is Greene ready for the next step?
“I mean, he’s going to show us,” said Robbie Grossman, the Tigers’ starting right fielder on the back end of a two-year contract. “He’s been here for a month, so I’m sure he’s primed and ready to go. He’s only going to make us better, him and Tork at some point, so I can’t wait to be a part of this, too.”
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Torkelson and Greene — not yet on the 40-man roster — reported to minor-league minicamp Feb. 20. They’ve taken part in numerous live batting practices and scrimmages at the Tigers’ complex. Among the players in MLB camp, which includes 17 minor-league players, the two top prospects are the most game-ready.
During minicamp, Torkelson and Greene were under the spotlight. Although Hinch let the minor-league staff instruct the minor leaguers, he often wandered the TigerTown backfields to evaluate his future players.
The spotlight, now that MLB players are in town, hasn’t disappeared.
If anything, it’s even brighter.
“Physically and emotionally, they’re in a good place,” Hinch said. “I thought they handled the entry into minicamp, the disappointment of no big-league camp starting and even the extra attention that you guys (media) have already given them pretty well. I think they’re tremendous prospects. Again, they’re going to have an opportunity to showcase what they can do and how they fit.
“There’s a reason we love them so much. They’re really good players. They’ve got the ‘it’ factor when it comes to how they fit on a club, how they interact with people. They can handle this pressure.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold. Read more on the Detroit Tigers and sign up for our Tigers newsletter.