DETROIT — After years of rebuilding and near-misses, the Detroit Tigers are rewriting their narrative in the most emphatic way possible. With a surge of late-season dominance, powered by an offense firing on all cylinders, the Tigers have become one of the most dangerous teams in baseball — and at the heart of this charge stands Spencer Torkelson.
On Wednesday night at Comerica Park, Torkelson delivered a performance that epitomized the Tigers’ sudden transformation. The 25-year-old first baseman crushed two home runs and drove in five RBIs in a crucial 9-3 win over a division rival, marking his third multi-homer game in just two weeks. It’s the kind of tear that not only energizes a team but also sends a warning across the league: Detroit is no longer just rebuilding. They’re ready to contend.
“This is what we’ve been working for,” Torkelson said after the game, standing in front of a buzzing clubhouse. “We believe in each other. We’re playing loose, playing aggressive, and we’re having fun — and that’s dangerous.”
Indeed, the Tigers are having fun, and more importantly, they’re winning. With their latest victory, Detroit has won 12 of its last 15 games and now sits just one game behind the final Wild Card spot in the American League. What was once a long shot now feels not only possible but likely.
The turnaround is due in large part to the resurgence of an offense that had struggled earlier in the year. In the first half of the season, Detroit ranked near the bottom of the league in runs scored and home runs. But since the All-Star break, they’ve flipped the script. Torkelson leads the charge with a .312 average, 14 home runs, and 35 RBIs over the last 30 games, while teammates Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, and Colt Keith have all stepped up with clutch hitting and consistency.
Manager A.J. Hinch credits the shift to a mix of maturity and mindset. “We’re not the same team we were in April,” Hinch said. “Guys are more comfortable in their roles. They’ve seen the pitching, they’ve taken their lumps, and now they’re responding like pros. Spencer’s been incredible, but this is a group effort. Everyone’s stepping up.”
Torkelson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, has faced immense pressure since his debut. His early career was marked by inconsistency, with glimpses of power overshadowed by prolonged slumps. But 2025 has been a different story. With a revamped swing and a more patient approach at the plate, Torkelson has blossomed into the slugger the Tigers hoped he would become.
“It’s been a grind, no doubt,” Torkelson admitted. “But I’ve learned so much the past couple of years. Now, it’s just about trusting the work I’ve put in and going out there every day with confidence.”
His confidence is contagious. Veteran Javier Báez, who has seen his own resurgence lately, noted the change in clubhouse energy. “When your young guys are leading like that, it gets everyone going,” Báez said. “Tork’s been unreal. He’s seeing the ball like a beach ball.”
The Tigers’ playoff hopes, which seemed faint as recently as July, now rest on a combination of hot bats, a solid bullpen, and a rotation that’s finding its rhythm. Tarik Skubal and Reese Olson have anchored the pitching staff, while Jason Foley and Alex Lange have shut things down late.
Still, it’s the offense that has turned heads — and it’s Spencer Torkelson who has become the face of Detroit’s playoff push.
“He’s playing like a guy who wants October baseball,” said Tigers broadcaster Matt Shepard during the postgame show. “He’s not just hitting home runs — he’s delivering in big moments, lifting this entire team.”
With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, every game feels like a playoff contest. Detroit fans, long starved for postseason glory, are packing Comerica Park with hope and excitement.
There’s a sense in the Motor City that something special is brewing — and it’s not just the wins, but the way this young team is doing it: with grit, energy, and a whole lot of firepower.
Whether or not the Tigers make the postseason, their resurgence has already sent a message. They are no longer waiting for the future — they are seizing the present.
And with Spencer Torkelson at the forefront, they’re roaring louder than they have in years.
