Torkelson added to the club’s player pool for 2020 Summer Camp

The Detroit Tigers have agreed to terms with third baseman Spencer Torkelson from Arizona State University, the first overall selection in the 2020 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. The Tigers also announced that Torkelson has been added to the club’s player pool for 2020 Summer Camp.

With the signing of Torkelson, the Tigers have now agreed to terms with all six of their selections from the 2020 draft, which also includes: Daniel Cabrera (Louisiana State University), Trei Cruz (Rice University), Dillon Dingler (Ohio State University), Colt Keith (Biloxi HS (MS)), and Gage Workman (Arizona State University).

Torkelson, 20, established himself as one of the top hitters in NCAA history over his two-plus seasons as a Sun Devil. Torkelson was a unanimous All-American and was selected to play for the U.S. Collegiate National Team in 2018 and 2019.

Torkelson became just the third player in Pac-12 history to have consecutive seasons with 25-or-more longballs. Had he hit 25-or-more home runs in his junior season, Torkelson would have cracked the NCAA top-10 all-time leaderboard, a feat accomplished by just one player since 2000.

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During Pride Month, the Detroit Red Wings brought focus to nonprofit organizations that recognize and celebrate inclusion, love and togetherness daily. In a series of interviews, the Detroit Red Wings spoke with representatives from Affirmations, Free Mom Hugs of Michigan and the You Can Play Project about their dedication to the community and their partnership with the Red Wings.

“What I see moving forward is an open forum between both organizations to allow people to ask questions and become more educated and really see it from a different perspective than how they may have seen it before,” said Arleta Greer, vice president of the board of directors for Free Mom Hugs of Michigan. “Red Wings events are always a joyous thing. The games, the events, the fandom of it all, it’s huge. And the ability to add in an entire community that may have felt a little trepidatious about approaching hockey will allow people in this community to feel included.”

The Red Wings have proudly supported Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center and You Can the past three seasons through various promotions and proceeds from the auction of autographed, player-used Pride Tape hockey sticks. The team proudly supported Free Mom Hugs for the first time last season through group fundraising efforts, with proceeds graciously donated on behalf of Free Mom Hugs to Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center.

Read the full interviews and learn more about these impactful organizations at DetroitRedWings.com.

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The Detroit Tigers will return to Comerica Park soon, joining clubs across Major League Baseball for a 60-game season beginning July 23-24.

“We are thrilled that baseball is back,” said Christopher Ilitch, Chairman & CEO of the Detroit Tigers. As fans, we all love the game. We’ve all missed the game. And here in Detroit, we can’t wait to welcome the Tigers home.”

The announcement follows confirmation that the MLB Players Association has accepted the health and safety protocols that will guide MLB’s return to play and that players will be able to report for training by July 1st.  The health and safety of players and employees will remain MLB’s foremost priorities in its return to play.  MLB is working with a variety of public health experts, infectious disease specialists and technology providers on a comprehensive approach that aims to facilitate a safe return.

MLB has submitted a 60-game regular season schedule for review by the Players Association.  In order to mitigate travel, the proposed schedule will largely feature divisional play, with the remaining portion of each Club’s games against their opposite league’s corresponding geographical division (i.e., East vs. East, Central vs. Central and West vs. West).  The vast majority of Major League Clubs are expected to conduct training at the ballparks in their primary home cities.

Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred, Jr. said: “Major League Baseball is thrilled to announce that the 2020 season is on the horizon.  We have provided the Players Association with a schedule to play 60 games and are excited to provide our great fans with Baseball again soon.”

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Aimed at empowering educators and parents, the Detroit Tigers, in partnership with MLB and EverFi, are offering free remote access to an innovative and interactive online curriculum for students.

MLB’s Summer Slugger is a unique baseball-themed educational program geared toward fourth- and fifth-grade students with a focus on math and literacy skills. The program’s 36 lessons cover fundamental topics like vocabulary, arithmetic, geometry, spelling and more.

This is the first time in the program’s history that Summer Slugger, previously only available through educational institutions and educators during the summertime, has had widespread availability. With approximately 39-million students learning at home across the United States and Canada, Summer Slugger aids the parents and schoolteachers who are adapting to help kids continue to learn and advance in this challenging environment.

Parents can access the Detroit Tigers Summer Slugger program by visiting https://summerslugger.com/mlb_clubs/tigers/ and using the code “tigers.”

Summer Slugger is one of the many programs the Detroit Tigers Foundation supports for kids in the metro region. Recently, the foundation partnered with Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera and his wife, Rosangel, to donate $250,000 to assist with meals for children, technology for remote education, affordable childcare and protective face masks for families in the community.

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This summer, kids across the city of Detroit will have the unique opportunity to participate in a new program from the Detroit Red Wings’ pioneering Learn, Play, Score platform. “Street Hockey in The D at Home” – powered by Chevrolet.

The free, six-week virtual summer program, in partnership with Detroit Parks & Recreation, is available to students aged 6-14 during July and August; registration begins Wednesday, June 17.

Building upon the “Street Hockey in the D” programming originally launched within Detroit Public Schools Community District K-8 physical education classes earlier this year, the Learn, Play, Score platform is evolving during the COVID-19 pandemic to offer unique online instructional content through “Street Hockey in the D at Home.”

Participants will learn the basics of street hockey from Learn, Play, Score Ambassadors and Red Wings players in a virtual Google Classroom setting. Each video will focus on street hockey skills and drills, physical activity and wellness.

Participant registration will take place June 17-19, June 22 and June 23-24, from 8-11 a.m., at two Detroit Parks & Recreation locations that also serve as community hubs for family food pack distribution.

Registrants will receive a complimentary Red Wings hat, street hockey stick and ball so their kids can participate at home. Registration locations and dates are as follows, and is limited to Detroit city residents:

Adams Butzel Recreation Complex
10500 Lyndon Street
Detroit, MI 48238

Farwell Recreation Center
2711 Outer Drive East
Detroit, MI 48234

To learn more about Detroit Red Wings Learn, Play, Score, visit www.learnplayscore.com.

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The Detroit Tigers Foundation, an affiliate of Ilitch Charities, in partnership with Miguel and Rosangel Cabrera, G1 Impact and Serve Foundation, distributed thousands of locally made masks to Detroiters at a special community giveaway on Monday.

The event took place at the Durfee Innovation Society an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for Detroiters, and served residents of Hope Village, Russell Woods, Nardin Park, LCBC, Virginia Park and Boston Edison, as well as the Central High School & Durfee K-8 school district. Volunteers from community organization Life Remodeled came together to make it all happen.

The mask distribution was funded by a $10,000 gift from Miguel and Rosangel Cabrera, in partnership with the Detroit Tigers Foundation. They were manufactured through G1 Impact’s network of approved vendors and local small area businesses, who’ve made a dedicated effort to create or sustain jobs for their employees in recent months.

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The Ilitch companies’ mask production initiative has entered its second successful week, with mobilized employees manufacturing thousands of masks per day at their new facility. As announced at the outset, these protective masks will go not only to fellow employees and customers, but also community organizations across the metro-Detroit region.

A hallmark of the initiative – one being driven by many Ilitch employees who call Detroit home – the masks will continue to be donated to charities and groups throughout the city in the days and weeks ahead.

The first masks to come off the line were donated to residents of Bicentennial Tower, a senior citizen center located in Detroit. They were delivered by Rian English-Barnhill, Vice President of Government & Community Affairs for Olympia Development of Michigan and Mary Sheffield, Detroit City Council President Pro Tempore, to residents in the Councilwoman’s midtown district.

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A Two-Time Unanimous All-American at Arizona State, Torkelson Ranks as One of the Best Hitters in College Baseball History

The Detroit Tigers selected third baseman Spencer Torkelson from Arizona State University with the first overall pick in the 2020 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Torkelson, 20, established himself as one of the top hitters in NCAA history over his two-plus seasons as a Sun Devil, batting a combined .337/.463/.729 with 33 doubles, 54 home runs and 130 RBI. His home run total was just two shy of tying Bob Horner’s school record of 56 homers. Torkelson was a unanimous All-American and was selected to play for the U.S. Collegiate National Team in 2018 and 2019.

Belting 25 home runs as a freshman in 2018 and 23 as a sophomore in 2019, Torkelson became just the third player in Pac-12 history to have consecutive seasons with 25-or-more longballs. If he had hit 25-or-more home runs in his junior season, Torkelson would have cracked the NCAA top-10 all-time leaderboard, a feat accomplished by just one player since 2000.

“Spencer is exactly the type of player we hoped would be there for us with the top pick in this year’s draft,” said Scott Pleis, Detroit Tigers Director of Amateur Scouting. “He’s one of the most polished hitters we’ve seen in the draft for quite some time, showing plus-plus power and excellent plate discipline. We’ve been tracking Spencer’s growth and performance since his breakout freshman season at Arizona State, and are excited to see him grow in the coming years.”

Torkelson put together one of the best freshman seasons in college baseball history in 2018, batting .320/.440/.743 with 12 doubles, 25 home runs and 53 RBI. Torkelson led the country with 25 home runs, which were two more than any other player and just one shy of the NCAA freshman record. His also easily surpassed the previous Arizona State freshman record of 11 home runs in a season, set by Barry Bonds in 1983. Torkelson was tabbed the National Freshman of the Year by Perfect Game, the National Co-Freshman of the Year by Collegiate Baseball News, the National Freshman Hitter of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.

“After completing a comprehensive and truly unique pre-draft evaluation of the top players, our decision to select Spencer was a clear one,” said Al Avila, Detroit Tigers Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager. “We’re excited to have him join our player development system and know that his outstanding performance in the batter’s box, in the field and in the clubhouse will be assets to our organization for years to come.”

A native of Petaluma, CA, Torkelson was a four-year varsity starter at Casa Grande High School, hitting .430 with 32 doubles, 11 home runs and 99 RBI in 110 games. He also maintained a 1.24 ERA in 16 career appearances on the mound, throwing 22.2 innings.

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Earlier today, at the request of Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Reverend Wendell Anthony, President, Detroit Branch of the NAACP, business leaders from Detroit came together in a show of solidarity. They spoke out against racism and injustice, committing to collectively champion equality, diversity and inclusion across their companies and communities.

A replay of the press conference can be found on the City of Detroit’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CityofDetroit/videos/177029263748555/.

The demonstration of unity included CEOs of nine Detroit corporations, including Chris Ilitch, President and CEO, Ilitch Holdings. Ilitch’s complete remarks are below.

Today we stand together to champion equality, justice and respect for the African American community. I am proud to stand with those who support diversity and inclusion and condemn hatred, racism, prejudice and violence.

I want to join in thanking Mayor Duggan and Reverend Anthony for bringing us together.

No doubt, these have been difficult days. We all mourn the tragic and all-too-common loss of African American lives. We are saddened. We are troubled. We are angry.

But anger is not enough. We have a moral obligation to meet intolerance and injustice with action and resolve. We need to peacefully and productively channel our grief and shared sense of decency into lasting and positive change.

The strength of this city lies in the spirit of this city and in the grace and goodwill of its people.

It lies in our ability to rally. To rise. And to demand better.

Like all of you, I love this city. It’s why my parents moved our headquarters here. And it’s why we’ve grown our businesses here.  

We are proud and privileged to call Detroit home. But with that comes responsibility.

A responsibility to help lead and uplift the community in times like this. And that’s what today is all about. Collectively acknowledging the systemic issues facing the African American community. And collectively demanding, and helping to deliver, meaningful solutions.  

It’s not enough to simply stand here and talk. Now is the time for us to act.

To the African American community let me say: We see and hear you. We respect you. We stand with you.

Thank you.

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