Tigers' A.J. Hinch Shares Zach McKinstry Injury Update Before Royals Game

Detroit Tigers utility man Zach McKinstry is being monitored after bruising his hip during Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Kansas City Royals. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters Thursday, per Evan Woodberry of MLive Media Group, that McKinstry is "not moving around well" and the team will "continue to get him looked at."

McKinstry had a physically demanding night before his evening was cut short. He jammed his shoulder in a collision with Royals outfielder Jac Caglianone at third base in the third inning, then scraped his chest in a head-first slide. The play that eventually took him out of last night's game came in the seventh inning, when Caglianone, running to third, tripped McKinstry as he charged a ground ball. After the play, he headed off the field in discomfort and did not return.

Tigers infielder Zach McKinstry is "not moving around well" today and "we're going to continue to get him looked at," manager A.J. Hinch said.

— Evan Woodbery (@evanwoodbery) April 16, 2026

"It was a bruised hip," Hinch said postgame. "He got beat up a lot tonight."

Before the situation arose, Hinch planned to give McKinstry Thursday off, but his availability is now uncertain heading into the weekend. How he feels over the next few days will determine whether Detroit has a bigger problem on its hands.

With McKinstry out, Hinch put in Wenceel Perez and moved Kevin McGonigle from shortstop to third base and Javier Baez from center to short. Perez instantly made an impact at the plate, leading off the eighth inning with a go-ahead home run to right field that proved to be the difference as the Tigers extended their win streak to five games.

A potential IL stint would only deepen a roster already stretched thin. Detroit has outfielder Parker Meadows on the 10-day injured list with a concussion and a fractured radius in his left arm, limiting their depth and raising McKinstry's value as a utility player.

McKinstry hit .259 with 12 home runs, 49 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 2025, earning him his first All-Star selection as a midseason replacement. He signed a one-year, $4.2 million deal with Detroit in January and has proved himself as one of the more versatile players in the AL Central, capable of spending time in both the infield and outfield on any given night.

Again, it's that versatility that makes his health a priority for Detroit. The Tigers carry a 9-9 record into Thursday, riding a five-game win streak and looking to build something real in the AL Central after falling short to the Seattle Mariners in the ALDS last year.

Related: Yankees Receive Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon Injury Updates Before Angels Game

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This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 11:17 AM.