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MLB
The Detroit Tigers opened the Major League Baseball draft last night by selecting Spencer Torkelson from Arizona State University. Torkelson is considered the most promising power hitter to come out of college in the past few years. The surprise, however, was that Detroit introduced him as a third baseman, and confirmed that they hope to use him on the left side of the infield, instead of at first base, where he played for the Sun Devils.
A second surprise came when the Baltimore Orioles picked Arkansas outfielder Heston Kjerstad in the second slot. Vanderbilt shortstop Austin Martin, who had been considered a contender for the top pick, fell to fifth, and was taken by the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Milwaukee Brewers used the 20th pick in the first round to select UCLA center fielder Garrett Mitchell.
The final four rounds of the draft will be held this evening. This year’s event was shortened from its usual 40 rounds to save teams money in a year in which the COVID-19 pandemic has shortened the season.
Team owners and players are no closer to agreeing on what the 2020 season will look like. Yesterday, baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said the owners would issue another proposal. He also reiterated that the agreement reached with the players union earlier this spring does give him the authority to set a schedule unilaterally, and that he will do so if current negotiations fail.
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