Blue Jays: Could Spencer Torkelson fall to fifth in the MLB Draft?

The Toronto Blue Jays have the fifth overall selection in the upcoming 2020 amateur draft, is there a possibility that slugger Spencer Torkelson falls into their lap?

The Blue Jays have the all-important fifth overall selection and it has been speculated that they will select a pitcher over a position player, however, they may be presented with an opportunity to hit a home run with generational talent Spencer Torkelson.

Torkelson is a first baseman from Arizona State and on most boards projected to go third overall. The slugger has demolished collegiate pitching to the tune of a .337 batting average with 48 home runs and 119 runs batted in over his first two seasons with the Sun Devils.

In 2019, the 20-year old hit .351/.446/.707 with 85 hits including 23 bombs and 66 runs batted in over 57games. The right-handed slugger broke Barry Bonds freshman home run record by swatting 25 in his first season in Arizona and was the Collegiate Player of the Year.

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The first baseman projects as a complete hitter walking 79 times in 112 games good enough for nearly a 1 to 1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Torkelson has played predominately first base but there are mutterings he is athletic enough to switch to a corner outfield position as well.

To reiterate his offensive prowess, Torkelson has feasted on pitching in the Cape Code League which is a summer wood bat league notorious for premier pitching. In 30 Cape Code games with the Chatham Anglers, Torkelson hit .340 with nine homers in 126 plate appearances.

The Blue Jays have been linked to strikeout machine Asa Lacy of Texas A&M as a potential draft target in the fifth spot. Lacy fanned 130 hitters in just 88 innings of work while posting a 2.13 earned run average in 2019.

The southpaw is projected as the second-best arm in the draft next to Emerson Hancock who could be the consensus number one pick in the draft.

It will all depend on what the Tigers, Orioles, Marlins, and Royals do with their selections before the Blue Jays but if Torkelson is still on the board, he would be an exciting selection and one who has been compared to prospect Andrew Vaughn for their similarities.