The Detroit Tigers are getting their first glimpse of No. 1 draft pick Spencer Torkelson wearing the Old English D at Comerica Park, and he’s impressed so far in the short time he’s been in the Motor City.
And skipper Ron Gardenhire has taken notice.
“I was asking for a loan, to see what he had,” Gardenhire said. “I just talked about being calm, and that there’s a reason he’s here, because he’s a really good player. I don’t want him going out trying to prove this or prove that. Just go out and have fun and play.”
Torkelson, who signed a record-setting contract last week, has looked right at home so far in Detroit. But Gardenhire knows the team can’t push their valuable asset too far right away.
“He did that pretty good yesterday and he handled himself very well,” Gardenhire continued. “I just wanted to kind of reassure him that he doesn’t have to kill himself trying to do things around here. We’re happy to have him, excited to have him, and that type of stuff, so just take it easy, relax and enjoy the game of baseball like he has.”
Of course, Gardenhire managed another No. 1 prospect in Joe Mauer during his years with the Minnesota Twins. And Gardenhire can see parallels between the two.
“It’s a lot bigger thing now than it was back then, with a lot more media, the whole package and social media, so Tork’s probably going to have a little bit more of that (attention) than Joe did. But I think from what I’ve seen — and I’ve only talked to him one time out on the field so far — he seems like he’s got it.
“He’s been there and done it and Joe was the same way. Joe made time for everybody and was a class act and the whole package and I think we got Tork in about the same situation.”
– – Quotes via Rod Beard of The Detroit News Link – –
