Lakeland, Fla. — As you might expect in a 16-3 spring romp, there was a lot to be encouraged about Tuesday in the Tigers’ Grapefruit League win over a WBC-depleted St. Louis Cardinals team.
Let’s start with first baseman Spencer Torkelson. He has been hitting balls off the barrel most of the spring, and lately, he’s starting to enjoy some positive results. Like the single he scorched off a first-pitch, 100-mph heater from the Twins' Jhoan Duran on Sunday.
And then in the fifth inning Tuesday, he laced a double into the right-center gap off an off-speed pitch that left his bat with an exit velocity of 105 mph.