Unless the Detroit Tigers throw a curve ball Wednesday, first baseman Spencer Torkelson will become the fourth No. 1 overall major league baseball draft pick in Arizona State history.
Vanderbilt is the only other college with multiple overall top selections (2) since the draft began in 1965. If the Tigers choose Torkelson, colleges will take a 28-27 lead over high schools in total No. 1 picks, the exception being in 2006 when pitcher Luke Hochevar was drafted No. 1 out of an independent league (a long story involving agent Scott Boras).
The draft was to have been held for the first time in Omaha, Nebraska, in conjunction with the College World Series, which would have started Saturday but was canceled March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic.