TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 05: Spencer Torkelson #73 of the Detroit Tigers gets ready to bat against the New York Yankees in a spring training game at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 05, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
Fans got defensive when the Detroit Tigers farm system was categorized by national folks as “top-heavy,” referencing the lack of big-league potential beyond the big five in the system: Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal, Matt Manning, Riley Greene, and Spencer Torkelson. After a flurry of top-five finishes in the farm system power rankings by several national publications, perhaps fans took exception; especially after a 2020 draft that was widely lauded in the baseball world.