Kevin McGonigle Receives Disappointing News Amid First Tigers Season
After two straight playoff appearances in 2024 and 2025, the Detroit Tigers had expectations for the 2026 MLB season. Almost halfway through now, and they have not quite lived up to the preseason hype.
The team is 33-44 and fourth place in the American League Central. They are seven and a half games back of the first-place Cleveland Guardians entering play on Monday.
One of the lone bright spots on the roster has been 21-year-old infielder Kevin McGonigle. The former No. 2 prospect was called up for 2026 Opening Day, and has somehow exceeded expectations.
Through 74 games, the rookie is slashing .283/.393/.428 with an .821 OPS. He has six home runs and 26 RBIs.
The 21-year-old's .393 on-base percentage is especially impressive, as it ranks 10th in MLB. McGonigle has drawn 48 walks this year to only 42 strikeouts.
He has split playing time at shortstop and third base this season. In 638 ⅓ innings in the field, he has accumulated nine defensive runs saved (h/t FanGraphs).
The rookie can do it all, as he has statistically been a top player in MLB this year. Despite this, McGonigle is not receiving the amount of All-Star votes he should be. In an X post on Monday, the Tigers team account campaigned for fans to keep voting McGonigle.
Didn't hear no bell.⁰⁰There's still time to get our guys to Philly ⁰⁰Vote 5x per day https://t.co/JrsIBeU1cGpic.twitter.com/NPtCY6O3BV
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) June 22, 2026
He is currently in third place in the voting for shortstops, behind Kansas City's Bobby Witt Jr. and Toronto's Andrés Giménez. Witt is one of the best players in MLB, no questions asked, but Giménez being over McGonigle is interesting.
The Blue Jays shortstop is hitting to a .648 OPS this season, and has been average at the shortstop position defensively. It seems like McGonigle has the better argument for the nod.
The gap is about 400,000 votes. Only the top two at the infield positions will move on to Phase 2 of voting. Since McGonigle is in third place, this likely means that he will fail to make it to Phase 2, which begins next Monday.
It is a frustrating turn of events for McGonigle and the Detroit fans. Nonetheless, McGonigle has still had a tremendous season to this point and is on his way to earning the Rookie of the Year award in the American League.
Related: Tigers Star Tarik Skubal Addresses Growing Trade Speculation
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This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 12:39 PM.