Spencer Torkelson's second go-around as an MLB Draft candidate went a tad different than his first.

In high school, scouts told him there was a chance he'd be selected in the top 10 rounds, and Torkelson, eager to get to the pros and with his parent's blessing, was dropping his price to sign. Instead, the 40-round extravaganza concluded with no happy phone calls. He got the notification of the draft's conclusion and needed to blow off steam, needed to quell his anger knowing his dream wasn't coming true that day. He called his uncle, Mike Enochs, to meet him at the Casa Grande High School baseball field to toss him balls. There was a little extra violence behind each swing that day.

Around the same time three years later, Torkelson was in his backyard in Petaluma, Calif. It was a party that raged on until 2 a.m. There was a Mexican food truck outside their house, serving rockfish and Korean short rib tacos. Spencer outdueled his friends and family in cornhole. People the family hasn't seen in years stopped by to simply share their stories and offer their congratulations. There were no faces absent of a smile Wednesday night. How could there be?

Just hours earlier, Torkelson was on his couch, flanked by his mom, Lori, and dad, Rick, in their "TV room," which was filled by scores of supporters who had been there since the time "Spenny" could pick up a bat. And just like that, they watched his dream come true.

The Detroit Tigers selected Torkelson no. 1 overall in the MLB Draft, exceeding even the first-round goal Torkelson created while he was punishing baseballs for his draft pitfall three years prior.

"That was the happiest moment of my life," Torkelson said in a post-draft ESPN interview before adding Thursday morning. "It was such an incredible night. I didn't sleep very well the last two nights. There was just so much adrenaline going through me; it was insane."

Torkelson admitted the Tigers didn't indulge him with an early congratulatory phone call, the ones that have become a mainstay in the NFL and NBA drafts. Rick Torkelson knew his son was in the mix but even down to the last seconds, butterflies were running through his body.

The family took a plane to Southern California last Monday to meet with Scott Chiamparino, the Vice President of the Boras Corporation, Torkelson's agency. There, they received a crash course into the MLB Draft, learning how teams value players, how the process would work, and more. Aside from that, Rick Torkelson said the family has been in the dark for most of the last few weeks. They haven't spoken to the Tigers recently. He knows Torkelson's agents have, but it's not like they were relaying the Torkelsons with constant information on Detroit's interest or a possible deal.

To Rick, though, none of it is a big deal. He has no fears that a deal for his son's first professional contract will get done with no hiccups, admitting that they're "not trying to break the record. As long as they're not trying to really, really low-ball him -- and they're not, according to the agents. We haven't heard numbers, but that's what they say."

They've expected this, though. Both Lori and Rick are CPAs, running a firm in Petaluma called Torkelson and Associates. For the last few years, as it became increasingly likely their son was going to make a lot of money in the draft -- whether or not he was the top selection -- they knew there would be a time when negotiations happened, and numbers were flung around.

****

For all their trepidation of a last-minute snafu was going to occur, that the Tigers would pass on Torkelson, his selection wasn't much of a shock. After all, mocks have penciled the Arizona State slugger's name at no. 1 for more than a year. That he was called as a third baseman, though, that was a different story. Most figured commissioner Rob Manfred misspoke when he failed to call Torkelson a first baseman. You know, the only position he played in college. Nope, it wasn't a mistake. To the Tigers, it's a compliment to Torkelson's athleticism, a chance for them to try him on the hot corner -- a more valuable position -- and if need be, they can move him back to first.

"Saying Spencer Torkelson, third baseman, that's a compliment to Spencer," said MLB Hall of Famer Alan Trammell, who serves as the Tigers Special Assistant to the General Manager. "And if it doesn't work out, we know he can play first. But it can help the organization if he can (play third), so we're going to give it a shot."

Tigers Director of Amateur Scouting Scott Pleis and Trammell traveled to Tempe for ASU's opening-weekend series against Villanova. Plies remembers Torkelson clobbering a 3-2 slider over the Phoenix Muni fence, a pitch that most prospects simply want to put in play.

"They measured it at 435 feet. Now, 3-2, you're not looking to do much more than make good, solid contact. And he hit a home run that far on a slider," Pleis said. "He is a strong young man."

They were also able to watch Torkelson take grounders at third, impressed by both his mobility on the left side and his arm strength. Pleis added that when they took into account Torkelson's power plus his lesser-known plus-attributes like base running, fielding, and throwing, they were confident "we got a special guy. There's no question about it."

Watching the draft broadcast, if the Torkelsons were either surprised or caught off guard by the third base announcement, one couldn't tell. There was too much yelling. Too much hugging.

But with all the jubilation comes the reality. This is only supposed to be the beginning. There are now grand expectations, a significant financial investment put into Torkelson. There is celebration, but there is also pressure. At least, that's how most would view his situation. He's a grand talent, sure, but now everyone will be watching, perhaps waiting for any small thing to declare that he didn't pan out.

The Torkelsons don't look at it through the same lens.

"I don't know if worry is the right word. It really is an honor. I know it seems surrealistic," Rick Torkelson said. "The pressure is off the minute they said his name. That was so huge. It's immortal. As I was telling Spenny, 'You're always going to be the first pick no matter what happens.' And he's going to work super hard. He's a motivated kid. He doesn't settle for less than his best."

Need an example? When the COVID-19 pandemic halted the college baseball season, Torkelson flew back to Petaluma. With all the area parks and schools shut down, his mom bought him a batting cage to put together in the backyard. The only problem was, as Torkelson said, "The net was probably made for a 10-year old. "Within the first week, Torkelson's constant stream of 100+ mph missiles put a hole through the net.

Yes, Torkelson will keep working regardless of his situation. His near future is up in the air; even the Tigers admitted that. There are no precise dates on what the minor leagues will look like this season. No dates to report to any camps. No timetable for his accent to the majors. But, whether in his backyard, Casa Grande High, or Florida, Torkelson will do whatever he cannot in lieu of pressure, but because of it.

"Pressure is a privilege. A lot of people will say that there's no such thing as pressure. I truly believe in that," Torkelson said. "That pressure -- or whatever you want to call it -- it drives me. It makes me work harder. I don't let it phase me. It's a privilege to be in the position I'm in. You've just got to run away with it."