Kevin

McGonigle

McGonigle could have gotten a fifth hit while facing catcher Chadwick Tromp in the eighth, but he flew out on a 37.7-mph pitch. Four is still pretty good, though. The only previous time he had done that was in his very first game on Opening Day against the Padres. The four runs scored doubled his previous high.

It will be his fourth day off out of 104 for the Tigers if he doesn’t make an appearance at some point. Tough timing for fantasy managers with the Royals starting RHP Beck Way. Zach McKinstry will cover shortstop for the Tigers today.

The 21-year-old phenom gave the Tigers an early lead as he clobbered a 414-foot (103.0-mph EV) opposite-field two-run shot off of Aaron Nola in the third inning. That would be the only time that he would reach base in five trips to the plate. The first-time All-Star and Rookie of the Year favorite is slashing a scintillating .286/.395/.426 with eight homers, 34 RBI and 11 stolen bases through his first 405 plate appearances in the big leagues.

McGonigle is one of two rookie infielders who made the roster, with Travis Bazzana of the Guardians also claiming a spot. They’ll be joined by catchers Dillon Dingler and Adley Rutschman; first basemen Ben Rice and Nick Kurtz; third baseman Miguel Vargas and outfielders Randy Arozarena, Cody Bellinger and Riley Greene, along with designated hitter Yandy Díaz.

McGonigle’s homer was a 422-foot blast that cleared the bullpens in right-center field. If there’s been anything to complain about with him from a fantasy perspective this year, it has been the absence of a power ceiling, as Wednesday’s homer was his seventh. Fantasy managers will surely take the rest of what he has provided, and with a player of his prospect pedigree, it’s only a matter of time until his power stroke takes hold. McGonigle entered the day with 3.4 fWAR, leading all rookie hitters.

McGonigle struck out in the first inning, but singled and came around to score in the second inning. In the fourth inning, his two-run single gave the Tigers a 7-0 lead. McGonigle is hitting .284 with an .819 OPS and 30 RBI so far in his rookie campaign.

McGonigle reached on an infield single in the third inning, then swiped second base and rode home on Kerry Carpenter’s two-run blast. He also walked in the fourth inning, stole second and scored on a bloop single off the bat of Dillon Dingler. The 21-year-old continues to impress, slashing .284/.391/.426 with six homers, 28 RBI and 11 stolen bases in his first 348 big league plate appearances.

McGonigle got his in a game where the Tigers struggled to get much going offensively. Frustratingly, his double traveled 411 feet to the deepest part of Comerica Park and would’ve been a home run in most major league stadiums. Alas, he has a .283 batting average and .816 OPS in what’s been a standout rookie season.

McGonigle hit a single in his first at-bat of the game, which was the first at-bat of his career against Yankees starter Gerritt Cole. In the third inning, he had an RBI groundout. Then, in the fourth inning, he had an RBI double. McGonigle is hitting .285 with an .824 OPS and 28 RBI.

McGonigle’s homer came in the ninth off Josh Hader, an opposite-field shot before the perennial All-Star closer struck out the side. The rookie infielder now has six homers and nine steals to go along with a .390 OBP while looking like a seasoned veteran since Opening Day. His performance slipped in May following a strong start, but he has come roaring back in June.