DETROIT — Sometime in the haze of the past month, once the Detroit Tigers started calling up the kids and handing over the roster to a new generation of prospects, manager A.J. Hinch called in several of his veterans for direct, if not difficult, conversations.The players involved were about to see their playing time diminish while the organization tinkers with rookies in the homestretch of a lost season. Among the veterans were Gleyber Torres, Javier Báez and Zach McKinstry, as well as a more interesting inclusion: Spencer Torkelson.The No. 1 pick of the 2020 MLB Draft has already battled more than his share of ups and downs as a Tiger. He was demoted as a rookie in 2022 and again in 2024. He has smashed titanic home runs and battled confounding struggles. Now five years into his career, Torkelson entered Wednesday with 2,668 plate appearances. He has a 101 career wRC+, essentially a league-average hitter.Through the good and the bad, Torkelson has always remained resilient. He can smile and chuckle when things are clicking and the postgame interviews are fun. He’s been a classy professional even when the bat is slumping and the questions get tougher.MLB September callups to noteKeith LawBut here Torkelson is in September. In an awkward spot once again. He has started only one of the Tigers’ past four games.“Control the controllables,” Torkelson said. “How you show up every day. Be a great teammate. Keep working my ass off. Still believe. Just because I had a couple tough months doesn’t mean I’m done for. … I want to be in a different position, but right now I kind of know where we’re at, and I understand it.”