LAKELAND, Fla. — About 365 days have passed in Spencer Torkelson's official climb toward the major leagues.
Since his first swings in a spring training game last season, Torkelson is a different baseball player. He has a full professional season under his belt. He climbed from High-A West Michigan to Triple-A Toledo, crushing 30 home runs along the way. He thrived in the Futures Game at Coors Field in Denver, part of MLB's All-Star Game festivities, and looked like a top prospect in the Arizona Fall League.