| PA | AB | R | H | HR | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 206 | 169 | 30 | 43 | 12 | 7 | .254 | .369 | .550 | .919 |
| Career Minors | 818 | 676 | 135 | 208 | 25 | 40 | .308 | .410 | .512 | .922 |
| AVG | HR | SB | OPS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | .254 | 12 | 7 | .919 |
| Career Minors | .308 | 25 | 40 | .922 |
| Season | Tm | LG | L | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | HBP | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 Teams | Minors | 21 | 93 | 73 | 18 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 1 | .315 | .452 | .411 | .863 | |
| 2023 | FCL Tigers | FCL | ROK | 9 | 45 | 33 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 1 | .273 | .467 | .333 | .800 |
| 2023 | Lakeland Flying Tigers | FSL | A | 12 | 48 | 40 | 7 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | .350 | .438 | .475 | .913 |
| 2024 | 2 Teams | Minors | 74 | 328 | 272 | 49 | 84 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 44 | 46 | 28 | 22 | 2 | 1 | .309 | .401 | .452 | .853 | |
| 2024 | Lakeland Flying Tigers | FSL | A | 60 | 271 | 230 | 40 | 75 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 37 | 35 | 24 | 20 | 2 | 0 | .326 | .407 | .470 | .877 |
| 2024 | West Michigan Whitecaps | MID | A+ | 14 | 57 | 42 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | .214 | .368 | .357 | .725 |
| 2025 | 3 Teams | Minors | 88 | 397 | 331 | 68 | 101 | 31 | 2 | 19 | 80 | 59 | 46 | 10 | 7 | 2 | .305 | .408 | .583 | .991 | |
| 2025 | Lakeland Flying Tigers | FSL | A | 6 | 20 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .235 | .350 | .353 | .703 |
| 2025 | West Michigan Whitecaps | MID | A+ | 36 | 171 | 145 | 37 | 54 | 19 | 0 | 7 | 39 | 23 | 19 | 3 | 5 | 2 | .372 | .462 | .648 | 1.110 |
| 2025 | Erie SeaWolves | EAS | AA | 46 | 206 | 169 | 30 | 43 | 10 | 2 | 12 | 41 | 33 | 26 | 7 | 2 | 0 | .254 | .369 | .550 | .919 |
| FCL Tigers | FCL | ROK | 9 | 45 | 33 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 1 | .273 | .467 | .333 | .800 | |
| Erie SeaWolves | EAS | AA | 46 | 206 | 169 | 30 | 43 | 10 | 2 | 12 | 41 | 33 | 26 | 7 | 2 | 0 | .254 | .369 | .550 | .919 | |
| West Michigan Whitecaps | MID | A+ | 50 | 228 | 187 | 46 | 63 | 20 | 1 | 8 | 46 | 34 | 23 | 5 | 5 | 3 | .337 | .439 | .583 | 1.022 | |
| Lakeland Flying Tigers | FSL | A | 78 | 339 | 287 | 48 | 93 | 19 | 3 | 5 | 42 | 45 | 30 | 22 | 4 | 0 | .324 | .408 | .463 | .871 | |
| Career Minors | 4 Teams | 183 | 818 | 676 | 135 | 208 | 51 | 6 | 25 | 130 | 123 | 84 | 40 | 14 | 4 | .308 | .410 | .512 | .922 |
Scouting grades: Hit: 70 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 65
Max Clark’s below-slot deal as the third overall pick in 2023 allowed the Tigers to get aggressive, select McGonigle No. 37 overall and sign him for above slot at $2,847,500. The Pennsylvania native has seen some injuries -- a fractured right hamate in 2024, a right ankle sprain early in 2025 -- but has absolutely mashed everywhere since going pro. He split last season between High-A West Michigan and Double-A Erie (with some rehab time sprinkled in) and hit .305/.408/.583 with 19 homers, 59 walks and 46 strikeouts in 88 games. He made up for the lost time in the Arizona Fall League, where he earned MVP honors by producing a .362 average, a 1.210 OPS and a 12/19 K/BB ratio across 90 plate appearances.
McGonigle is arguably the best hitting prospect of the 2020s so far. He combines the right amount of plate discipline with aggression on pitches he can drive, and he pounds balls in the air and to all fields, with a specific aptitude for pulled shots. Standing 5-foot-10 on the left side of the box, he can look like a coil ready to spring, making him a menace on inside pitches, but he can move the bat around well enough to protect all parts of the plate. His increased strength and quality of angles push his power projection into plus territory.
The former Auburn recruit can get moving out of the box, though he was more of a steals threat before the ankle injury. His defense was a priority in the Fall League, where he also saw time at third. His footwork is stretched at the six, and while Gleyber Torres’ presence complicates matters in Detroit, McGonigle still might fit best at second base long-term. No matter where he lands, he has the ceiling of a multi-time batting champion.
Scouting grades: Hit: 70 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 65
The Tigers went for Max Clark third overall in 2023 with an eye on a below-slot bonus (eventually $7.7 million) that would allow them to draft and sign big talents later. They didn’t have to wait much longer, selecting McGonigle 37th overall and signing him to an above-slot deal at $2,847,500. The Pennsylvania native got a taste of Single-A action that summer and returned to the Florida State League to begin 2024. He dominated for Lakeland with a slash line of .326/.407/.470 and a 24/35 K/BB ratio in 60 games before being pushed to High-A West Michigan in late July. McGonigle suffered a fractured right hamate and underwent surgery in mid-August, cutting his first full season short.
Batting from the left side, McGonigle coils himself tightly in the box to turn on pitches. He didn’t whiff on more than 12 percent of his swings against any major pitch types in the FSL, and his 8.5 percent K rate at both levels was sixth-best among 1,081 Minor Leaguers with at least 300 plate appearances in 2024. He won’t expand the zone much either, and pitchers typically paid the price when they came into the zone where McGonigle ran a 93.6 percent contact rate in the FSL. His strong exit velocities backed up the hope that he’ll have at least average power, and he's been a doubles machine as he's climbed the ladder into the upper Minors in 2025.
McGonigle can burst out of the box nicely with above-average speed, and he gives pitchers and catchers something to monitor when on base. He's been basically exclusive to shortstop in 2025, but many evaluators still believe he’s a better overall fit at second base over the long term. McGonigle’s hit tool has placed him on the map in a big way, making him the top piece in a talent-rich Tigers system.
Scouting grades: Hit: 65 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55
Most promising young players grow up with a Major Leaguer they idolize and try to emulate, but it’s rarer to see a player turn pro with a profile that closely tracks their hero. McGonigle grew up in Philly watching Chase Utley anchor the middle infield, then grew up into a promising left-handed-hitting middle infielder himself. He turned down a chance to play college ball at Auburn to sign with the Tigers, who drafted him with a supplemental first-round pick and offered an above-slot $2,847,500. He joined Team USA teammate Max Clark in the Tigers' system and played just nine games at the Rookie-level Florida Complex League before moving to Single-A Lakeland, where he looked way more advanced than someone who was playing high school ball a few months earlier.
McGonigle was one of the best pure prep hitters in his Draft class, and it’s easy to see why. He has a smooth, quick left-handed swing, advanced zone judgement and pitch recognition and solid contact skills. He gets more loft than one might expect given his power numbers, but he also produced some hard-hit ground balls in A ball. He’s an opportunistic baserunner who gets more out of his legs than his raw speed might suggest. He played primarily shortstop in his first pro season and was fundamentally sound there, but there’s healthy debate about whether he can stick there long-term or will eventually move to his idol’s position at second.
Considering the state of the position in the Tigers' farm system, McGonigle could be a godsend if he can stay at shortstop, whether he hits for power or not. Even if he moves to second, he has the skill set and offensive potential to hold down the position for a while. He was enjoying a breakout first full season that saw him climb from Lakeland to High-A West Michigan when he suffered a right hamate fracture in early August.
Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50
Growing up just outside of Philadelphia, McGonigle loved watching Phillies legend Chase Utley do his thing. As a gritty, left-handed-hitting middle infielder, McGonigle got the chance to follow in his idol’s footsteps as an early-round pick, particularly after hitting pretty much everywhere he went on the summer showcase circuit. The Tigers selected him 37th overall and signed him for above slot at $2,847,500.
McGonigle, who also won a gold medal on USA Baseball’s 18-and-under team, might be one of the best pure hitters in his Draft class, at least in terms of bat-to-ball skills. He’s not afraid to be aggressive and attack fastballs early in counts, trusting his innate knack for finding the barrel and his overall approach to not chase pitches out of the zone. If there’s any question about his offensive profile, it’s about his future power, but he showed plenty of extra-base and over-the-fence pop to all fields against excellent competition over the summer.
An average-to-fringy runner, McGonigle’s high baseball IQ and aggressive nature help his baserunning and his defense. His hands work well and he has an average arm, but many see the former Auburn recruit needing to move to second eventually because of his range, just like his baseball role model did. That might put more pressure on his bat, but most evaluators think he’s more than ready to answer that challenge.
Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50
Growing up just outside of Philadelphia, McGonigle loved watching Phillies legend Chase Utley do his thing. As a gritty, left-handed-hitting middle infielder, McGonigle has the chance to follow in his idol’s footsteps as an early-round pick, particularly after hitting pretty much everywhere he went on the summer showcase circuit.
McGonigle, who also won a gold medal on USA Baseball’s 18u team, might be one of the best pure hitters in the class, at least in terms of bat-to-ball skills. He’s not afraid to be aggressive and attack fastballs early in counts, trusting his innate knack for finding the barrel and his overall approach to not chase pitches out of the zone. If there’s any question about his offensive profile, it’s about his future power, but he showed plenty of extra-base, and over-the-fence, pop to all fields against excellent competition over the summer.
An average to fringy runner, McGonigle’s high baseball IQ and aggressive nature help his baserunning and his defense. His hands work well and he has an average arm, but many see the Auburn recruit needing to move to second eventually because of his range, just like his baseball role model did. That might put more pressure on his bat, but most evaluators think he’s more than ready to answer that challenge.
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| Team | Date | Transaction |
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02/12/2026 | Detroit Tigers invited non-roster SS Kevin McGonigle to spring training. |
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11/08/2025 | American League Fall Stars activated SS Kevin McGonigle. |
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09/10/2025 | SS Kevin McGonigle assigned to Scottsdale Scorpions. |
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07/15/2025 | Erie SeaWolves activated SS Kevin McGonigle. |
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07/11/2025 | American League Futures activated SS Kevin McGonigle. |
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07/11/2025 | Erie SeaWolves placed SS Kevin McGonigle on the temporarily inactive list. |
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07/07/2025 | SS Kevin McGonigle assigned to Erie SeaWolves from West Michigan Whitecaps. |
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05/20/2025 | West Michigan Whitecaps activated SS Kevin McGonigle from the 7-day injured list. |
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05/10/2025 | West Michigan Whitecaps sent SS Kevin McGonigle on a rehab assignment to Lakeland Flying Tigers. |
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04/08/2025 | West Michigan Whitecaps placed SS Kevin McGonigle on the 7-day injured list. |
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03/07/2025 | SS Kevin McGonigle assigned to Detroit Tigers. |
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03/06/2025 | activated SS Kevin McGonigle. |
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09/24/2024 | West Michigan Whitecaps activated SS Kevin McGonigle from the 7-day injured list. |
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09/24/2024 | West Michigan Whitecaps activated SS Kevin McGonigle from the 7-day injured list. |
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08/11/2024 | West Michigan Whitecaps placed SS Kevin McGonigle on the 7-day injured list. |
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07/21/2024 | SS Kevin McGonigle assigned to West Michigan Whitecaps from Lakeland Flying Tigers. |
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04/23/2024 | Lakeland Flying Tigers activated SS Kevin McGonigle from the 7-day injured list. |
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04/05/2024 | Lakeland Flying Tigers placed SS Kevin McGonigle on the 7-day injured list. |
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04/05/2024 | Lakeland Flying Tigers placed SS Kevin McGonigle on the 7-day injured list. |
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03/07/2024 | Detroit Tigers Prospects activated SS Kevin McGonigle. |
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08/24/2023 | SS Kevin McGonigle assigned to Lakeland Flying Tigers from FCL Tigers. |
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08/24/2023 | Lakeland Flying Tigers activated SS Kevin McGonigle. |
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08/03/2023 | SS Kevin McGonigle assigned to FCL Tigers. |
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07/21/2023 | Detroit Tigers signed SS Kevin McGonigle. |
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08/24/2022 | SS Kevin McGonigle assigned to USA Baseball 18U National Team. |
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08/24/2022 | USA Baseball 18U National Team activated SS Kevin McGonigle. |
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07/01/2022 | High School Workout activated SS Kevin McGonigle. |
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07/01/2022 | High School Workout activated SS Kevin McGonigle. |
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07/01/2022 | SS Kevin McGonigle assigned to High School Workout. |
