MLB Draft Odds: 90% Chance Spencer Torkelson Selected First Overall
Despite a lack of regular season play, the 2020 MLB Draft begins on Wednesday at 7 pm ET with teams looking to bolster their farm system and land the next big prospect in baseball.
The Detroit Tigers own the No. 1 overall pick for the second time in three years after finishing last season with the worst record in the majors.
Detroit selected RHP Casey Mize with the first pick in the 2018 draft, and Mize is currently the 7th overall ranked prospect according to MLB.com and ranks 12th overall on Baseball Prospectus.
This season, oddsmakers are all but guaranteeing the Tigers move away from pitching and focus on hitting by selecting Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson with the first overall pick.
Torkelson’s odds for going No. 1 are currently -1000, giving him a 90.9% implied probability of ending up in Detroit.
The next shortest odds after Torkelson belong to Texas A&M LHP Asa Lacy at +600.
Austin Martin (+750), Nick Gonzales (+1000) and Emerson Hancock (+1500) round out the top five list of shortest odds to be selected by Detroit.
Torkelson is pretty much a lock to go first overall, which is made all more significant by the position he plays. The last time a first baseman was drafted No. 1 was in 2000, when the Marlins selected Adrian Gonzalez.
Torkelson is known for his ability to hit the long ball while still hitting for a high average. MLB.com has his hit tool graded as a 60 and his power graded as a 65.
MLB DRAFT ORDER
First Round
1. Detroit Tigers
2. Baltimore Orioles
3. Miami Marlins
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Toronto Blue Jays
6. Seattle Mariners
7. Pittsburgh Pirates
8. San Diego Padres
9. Colorado Rockies
10. Los Angeles Angels
11. Chicago White Sox
12. Cincinnati Reds
13. San Francisco Giants
14. Texas Rangers
15. Philadelphia Phillies
16. Chicago Cubs
17. Boston Red Sox
18. Arizona Diamondbacks
19. New York Mets
20. Milwaukee Brewers
21. St. Louis Cardinals
22. Washington Nationals
23. Cleveland Indians
24. Tampa Bay Rays
25. Atlanta Braves
26. Oakland Athletics
27. Minnesota Twins
28. New York Yankees
29. Los Angeles Dodgers