Detroit Tigers 1B Spencer Torkelson already has All-Star Game plans

Detroit Tigers’ Javier Baez talks Chicago Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong

Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez talks to reporters June 2, 2025, about playing for MLB’s best team, his career resurgence, Pete Crow-Armstrong.

• Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson is a leading candidate for the 2025 All-Star Game due to his impressive offensive performance.
• Torkelson’s improved approach at the plate, focusing on line drives to right-center field, has contributed to his success.

BALTIMORE — Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson has plans for the All-Star break.

For now, his plans don’t include baseball.

“I’m going Up North,” he said.

Since making his MLB debut, Torkelson has spent every All-Star break somewhere in Michigan, oftentimes at a lake in northern Michigan. This year, he’s traveling Up North again and looks forward to swinging his new driver at a golf course.

But Torkelson might have to cancel those plans.

PURR-FECT GAME NEWSLETTER: Tarik Skubal is making history. So which Tigers will join him at MLB All-Star Game?

The All-Star Game is scheduled for July 15 at Truist Park in Atlanta, with fan voting already underway. In 2025, Torkelson has been one of the best first basemen in the American League — opening the door for the 2020 No. 1 overall pick to play in the Midsummer Classic for the first time in his four-year MLB career.

Fans can vote for position players (but not pitchers) on MLB.com. Finalists at each position will be announced June 26 followed by another round of voting to determine starters, who will be announced on July 2. The full rosters, with position-player reserves and pitching staff selected by player vote and the commissioner’s office, will be announced July 6.

“Control what you can control — and that’s showing up every day and putting good at-bats together,” Torkelson said Tuesday, June 10. “The rest speaks for itself. Of course, everyone wants to be an All-Star. But I just want to attack every single day and win every single day. If I do that, I’ll put myself in a good position.”

Among AL first basemen, Torkelson ranks second in OPS (.842), while leading the way with 15 home runs, 15 doubles and 45 RBIs. He also ranks 10th in batting average (.237), sixth in on-base percentage (.342) and first in isolated power (.263). His 64 games played are tied for fourth among the AL’s 11 qualified players at first base.

Torkelson is one of four AL players — and the only AL first baseman — to record at least 15 home runs, 30 extra-base hits and 45 RBIs this season, joining New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward.

JEFF SEIDEL: Spencer Torkelson on Tigers struggles: ‘I’m not the same person’

Two or three AL first basemen will be selected to the All-Star Game.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. — the popular Toronto Blue Jays first baseman — is expected to be a lock for his fifth-consecutive All-Star bid, likely as the AL starter at first base, leaving three players in the mix for what could be one or two spots: Torkelson, the Tampa Bay Rays’ Jonathan Aranda and the Yankees’ Paul Goldschmidt.

A red-hot June could turn Torkelson into a lock for the All-Star Game.

Celebrate Father’s Day with our new Tigers book!

Torkelson also deserves to be a candidate to participate in the Home Run Derby, scheduled for July 14. He is one of MLB’s best power hitters, with his 15 homers ranking 12th his isolated power of .263 ranking 11th among 168 qualified players.

Eight players participate in the Home Run Derby.

Judge already declined.

But Torkelson is ready to swinging for the fences, if invited.

“It’s every kid’s dream,” Torkelson said, “but I haven’t thought too much about it.”

Torkelson changed his approach at the plate, from 2024 to 2025.

In 2024, Torkelson focused on pulling balls to left field for home runs, which led to fewer homers and more strikeouts. In 2025, Torkelson is committed to hitting line drives into right-center field and allowing his natural power to create homers, resulting in the best season of his career.

“I think I could scratch the approach for an hour,” Torkelson said.

He doesn’t think the Home Run Derby would impact his performance.

“Anything can mess you up if you let it,” he said.

[ MUST LISTEN: Make “Days of Roar” your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]

Matt Vierling: Rehab assignment coming soon

Outfielder/third baseman Matt Vierling is trending toward a rehab assignment soon in his return from a right shoulder injury. The 28-year-old is completing all baseball activities, including throwing.

Expect Vierling to begin a rehab assignment as a designated hitter, then transition into outfield and third base.

“He’s definitely going to make a rehab stint,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “We’ll see how soon it can be. There’s a chance that he could do it a little faster than necessarily the throwing even indicates.”

NEXT BIG THING? Tigers players evaluate prospect Bryce Rainer: ‘He’s got all the tools’

Vierling suffered a shoulder injury early in spring training, spent three months rehabbing and returned to the big leagues for four games before re-aggravating his right shoulder, sending him back to the injured list.

He has been sidelined since May 26.

“He’s fine body-wise,” Hinch said. “He’s fine to swing. He’s fine to run. He can do everything. We’re working his throwing back into the equation.”

Reese Olson finally throwing changeups

Right-hander Reese Olson has important news to share.

He finally felt comfortable enough to throw a few changeups while playing catch Tuesday at Camden Yards. The 25-year-old hasn’t been able to throw changeups — or pitch in games — since suffering a right ring finger injury in his May 17 start against the Toronto Blue Jays.

“I’m on track,” Olson said.

Not being able to throw his elite changeup has kept him sidelined for nearly one month, though he has maintained his arm strength by throwing all of his other pitches in bullpen sessions.

Olson is scheduled to complete another bullpen session Wednesday, June 11. After that, the Tigers will evaluate his pitch usage and determine the next step for him, including whether or not he needs a rehab assignment.

He owns a 2.96 ERA in nine starts.

Alex Cobb keeps going

Right-hander Alex Cobb — who signed a one-year, $15 million contract but has been injured since spring training — is scheduled for the third start of his rehab assignment Wednesday with Triple-A Toledo. He is recovering from a right hip injury.

He completed his first two starts with High-A West Michigan.

“Increase in level and increase in volume at the same time will tell us a little bit more,” Hinch said. “How does the stuff play? How does he retain it? Is he moving better? Is all the rehab that he’s doing chipping away a little bit at the discomfort? We’re going to find out.”

Cobb pitched through pain in those starts, somehow finding a way to complete 4⅓ innings on one hit and two walks with five strikeouts. The Tigers even instructed him not to cover first base on ground balls to the right side of the infield. He tossed 24 pitches in his first start, then 34 pitches in his second start.

For now, Cobb will continue to build up as a starter.

“I don’t think we have enough information to really make a call yet,” Hinch said. “We’re going to use, most likely, the entire rehab stint to make a determination on what he can and can’t do.”

Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.

Listen to our weekly Tigers show “Days of Roar” every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.

Order your copy of “Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!” by the Free Press at Tigers125.PictorialBook.com.