The Detroit Tigers have announced the list of players who will head to MLB Spring Training with the club. Kevin McGonigle, one of the highest-rated prospects in the league, made the cut. The 21-year-old shortstop will get the chance to push for an Opening Day roster spot against major league competition. He closed 2025 in Double-A.
McGonigle is the consensus top prospect in the Tigers’ system. He ranks second on MLB.com‘s top 100 prospects list. FanGraphs had him at No. 3 overall at the end of last season. Konnor Griffin of the Pittsburgh Pirates is widely regarded as the best prospect in the league, but McGonigle is right there with the Milwaukee Brewers‘ Jesus Made as one of the most hyped young players entering the 2026 season.
Fellow prospects Max Clark, Josue Briceno, and Max Anderson will also join the team for spring action. Clark is eighth on MLB.com’s overall list. He’s the highest-ranked outfielder on the board and could enter Detroit’s outfield as soon as this season. Briceno is ranked as a top 50 prospect in multiple places.
Top Prospect Kevin McGonigle to Compete for Roster Spot
The Tigers’ depth chart is thin on reliable infield options. The current configuration will include some combination of Colt Keith, Javier Baez, Gleyber Torres, and Zach McKinstry up the middle and at third base, with Spencer Torkelson handling first base. Matt Vierling is also on hand as a utility option.
Baez and McKinstry are both more suited for versatile roles at this stage of their respective careers. Neither is likely to hold down an everyday spot in the lineup. The same could be said of Keith, who was largely shielded from left-handed pitching last season. The 24-year-old lefty swinger had just 46 plate appearances against southpaws in 2025. Keith has a career .610 OPS when he doesn’t have the platoon advantage.
McGonigle was drafted as a shortstop, but has also spent time at second base in his minor league career. The young infielder also got a chance to play third base in the Arizona Fall League. He’s a candidate to get reps at all three infield spots with the Tigers.
McGonigle’s Bat Seems MLB-Ready
Despite entering the professional ranks at just 18 years old, McGonigle has yet to stumble offensively at any level. Detroit selected him with its second pick of the 2023 draft out of Monsignor Bonner High School. He hit .315 in his first taste of pro ball later that year.
McGonigle played 74 games between Single-A and High-A in 2024. He slashed .309/.401/.452 with five home runs and 22 steals. McGonigle smashed High-A pitching once again this past season, earning a promotion to Double-A. He put up a massive 162 wRC+ in 46 games at the level.
Scouting grades laud McGonigle for his impressive hit tool. He’s also shown a tremendous ability to make contact. McGonigle has walked more than he’s struck out at every minor league stop. Injuries have been the only factor holding him back up to this point. The shortstop had multiple stints on the IL in 2024. McGonigle lost more than a month to injury this past season.
Detroit Tigers Give Notable Update on Top Prospect Kevin McGonigle