It was not a surprise: The Detroit Tigers were going to take Spencer Torkelson, the best power hitter, with the No. 1 pick in Wednesday night’s MLB draft. The surprise came when MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced Torkelson as a third baseman . Thought to be the Tigers’ first baseman of the future, having played there during his collegiate and summer league careers, the team raised eyebrows with the position designation for the top pick. “It’s not a shock to me,” Torkelson said, in an interview on ESPN shortly after the selection. “I pride myself as a baseball player, and a baseball player isn’t stuck in one position.” Torkelson, the Arizona State junior, was considered the top pick as the draft approached. In two-plus seasons with the Sun Devils, he hit .337 with 54 home runs, leading the Pac-12 in homers in both his freshman and sophomore seasons. He played outfield 15 times at Arizona State and also right field in the Cape Cod League last summer, and some talent evaluators believe he can play a corner outfield spot in the big leagues. The Tigers likely have similar thoughts on Torkelson’s versatility, and expressed them in Manfred’s announcement of the pick. About Torkelson playing third base, general manager Al Avila said in an interview on ESPN, “That’s our intent at this point,” citing the opinions of his scouting staff. Those close to the Arizona State baseball program say Torkelson would have received playing time at third base in 2020, had it not been cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. If Torkelson is athletic enough to play a corner outfield spot, he is athletic enough to play third base. But first base is an important position, and the Tigers do not have a legitimate first base prospect in the system. In reality, Torkelson’s initial designation as a third baseman does not matter. His bat does, and he was viewed as the clear-cut most impactful hitter in the draft, just the kind of hitter the power-starved Tigers have been seeking. Torkelson fits in line with the Tigers’ rebuilding process — he projects to be a fast-mover through the minor leagues — and plays a position of need, even if it wasn’t made official on Wednesday night. Many talent evaluators believe he will end up at first base. “Our decision to select Spencer was a clear one,” Avila said. "He's exactly the type of player we hoped would be there for us to get with the top pick. Obviously, one of the most productive hitters in college history." With Torkelson in the mix, the Tigers have a legitimate impact offensive prospect to pair with last year’s No. 5 overall pick, outfielder Riley Greene, and up to a handful of top pitching prospects, led by right-handers Matt Manning and Casey Mize. Where he fits around the diamond in the future has yet to be determined, but Torkelson’s impact at the plate figures to be among the biggest. "The bat works, and that's one thing that we love about Spencer Torkelson," ESPN analyst Eduardo Perez said on the broadcast. "... This is a guy that uses his entire leverage, but his hands are so strong that he's able to stay up the middle on the field, and he knows that he can drive the baseball from foul pole to foul pole. This is a perfect pick, a guy that played high school baseball as a third baseman and now understands perfectly what he has to do at the pro level." Contact Anthony Fenech at afenech@freepress.com . Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech . Read more on the Detroit Tigers and sign up for our Tigers newsletter .