There was no doubt that Spencer Torkelson would go first overall in the 2020 MLB Draft, but it was a bit of a surprise when the Detroit Tigers announced the Arizona State first baseman as a third baseman Wednesday.
Positions can be fluid in the first round. A high school shortstop often becomes a professional center fielder. Relief pitchers move to the rotation, and vice versa.
But catchers taken in the first round tend to stay behind the plate. They are, after all, being selected there in large part because of defensive skills.
It was a bit of a surprise, then, when the Giants took North Carolina State catcher Patrick Bailey two years after selecting Joey Bart second overall.