AFL MVP MOMENTUM: Will Kevin McGonigle SECURE Opening Day Spot for Detroit Tigers in 2026?

AFL MVP MOMENTUM: Will Kevin McGonigle SECURE Opening Day Spot for Detroit Tigers in 2026?

Kevin McGonagal wins the Arizona Fall League MVP. Is he Detroit bound in 2026? You are Locked on Tigers, your daily Detroit Tigers podcast, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. What is up everybody? Welcome back to another edition of Locked On Tigers. I’m of course your host, Scott Bentley. Today is Monday, November 17th, 2025. Thank you so much for making Locked On Tigers your first listen every single day. We are free and available wherever you get your podcasts, including YouTube, part of the Lockdown podcast network, your team every single day. Today’s episode is brought to you by Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account, and use code lockdown MLB for $20 off of your first purchase. Welcome in. Welcome all everyone. Hope you all had a fantastic weekend. Today we have a handful of things to discuss. I do want to end the show by just briefly talking about uh the deadlines that are this week for the Detroit Tigers, as well as the AL and NL MVPs that were announced at the end of last week. But most of the show is going to be about the players that played in the Arizona Fall League and updates with them, how they performed, what their outlook looks like in 2026. And you cannot have a conversation about those players without starting with Kevin McGonagal. And that’s where we begin today. He wins the Arizona Fall League most valuable player award. Now, the cool part about this, aside from just the fact that a player in the Tigers organization won the Arizona Fall League MVP award, is that this is the second year in a row a Detroit Tiger has won the AFL MVP. Jose Brceno obviously won the AFL MVP last year in his triple crown AFL uh statline. Uh, I believe he was the first player ever to uh to triple crown the Arizona Fall League. Took home MVP. This year, Kevin McGonagal does. Final stat line for him, a 1210 OPS, a 500 OBP, five home runs, 19 RBI, 19 walks, and 12 strikeouts in 19 games. Another kind of caveat here we’ll throw into the mix. Three steals, one caught stealing. So, three steals on four attempts in 19 games is kind of cool to see as well. He played third base almost the entire time. And that’s obviously very intentional. I I think the big question that surrounds the fan base as a whole, I guess, is especially when he does anything good, but you know, which is right now, right, AFL MVP, what are the odds that he is playing in Detroit in March of 2026? We’ve kind of beat around the bush with this conversation a few times in the offseason. We’ve certainly been talking about the possibility of him playing in the AFL in the AFL possibility of him playing for the Detroit Tigers rather in the MLB in 2026 since June July. But I I the closer that this comes to a potential reality, the more I think it’s really not that far-fetched. Now, part of this depends on Glabber Torres and Alex Bregman. And even if you aren’t a big Bregman fan, you can just kind of zoom out a little bit and just say Glabber Torres and third base free agency. The Tigers I if they manage to land Bregman and Glabber accepts the qualifying offer, then there isn’t necessarily a built-in spot for McGonagal on the opening day roster at least in 2026. Now, the one caveat to that, the one exception to that is if the Tigers were comfortable playing him at shortstop immediately, which I don’t think they will. I think that they would prefer a to like ease him in defensively. He’s obviously known for his bat. Not that his defense is is poor or bad. Um, but I’m not sure he’s a shortstop at the MLB level like that. You have to be arguably the best defender on the field. So, I I I think that they would prefer, and this is just my speculation, but I think that the organization would prefer if McGonagal was not at one of the most important positions on the field immediately while also just dealing with the transition to major league pitching and whatnot and the speed of the game. But I think long term there’s not I mean there’s very far from a guarantee that he’s an MLB defensively an MLB shortstop throughout his career and they still have Javi under contract for multiple years and he is probably just going to hit nine and hopefully be good defensively. Now, on the flip side of that, what are the odds that both of those things happen? What are the the true odds that Glabber accepts the qualifying offer? Because if he doesn’t, he’s not I don’t think he’s a Detroit Tiger. I don’t think the Tigers are going to bring Glabber back on a multi-year deal that is is outside of just the the one-year qualifying offer they they offered him. Said offer a lot there. But what are the odds of that? What are the What is the likelihood that Glaver accepts the QO and they get a third baseman? And it they’re they’re not just going to bring in anyone, right? They’re not just going to bring That’s why I use Bregman. They’re not just going to bring in anybody to play third. I I I genuinely think at this point we’re talking about you either go huge at third and you bring in a a star caliber player like Bregman or you just throw McGonagal out there. I I don’t need them to sign like a a one-year zero war 35y old to to just play third base and and you know pray that he does okay. I don’t need we we’ve had a couple of those over the last four or five years. So, I think that that’s really what we’re weighing. We’re weighing the the likelihood of both of those things happening. The thing the reason why I throw in there is because there’s nothing that says McGonagal can’t transition and try to play second as well. That being said, you also need a spot for Colt Keith, so it still might be third base anyway. Again, a lot of moving parts, which is why if you bring in both of them, he he’s I mean, you’re probably talking about him being the odd man out. But I think it’s far more unlikely than likely that both of those things are to happen this winter. I think there’s a far better chance that only one or even neither of those things happen than both of those things occurring. Like I said earlier, I’ve kind of maintained that he has a shot to make this opening day roster since June or July. Um, him winning the AFL MVP does not change that likelihood for me. Like he was always going to rake in the Arizona Fall League. Defense continues to be the biggest question, as we’ve talked about, which is why I doubt shorts stop right away. We’ll we’ll put a bow on this conversation with this. I I I’ll reiterate a point I made last week. My dream scenario I keep getting asked like what is your perfect off season? Like if everything on uh like what does the lineup look like on opening day if everything goes right? McGonagal is magically good enough to play shortstop at the major league level immediately and is the starting opening day shortstop. They still go out and get Bregman, who plays third. They also go out and get a right-handed hitting power corner outfielder that doesn’t strike out at a 40% clip. Slight exaggeration there, but you get my point. And that’s my dream scenario. And then Jav is like super utility. Can play anywhere in the infield, could play anywhere in the outfield. Is the right-handed equivalent of what Zack Mckenry brings the team essentially. and they can just platoon super utility based on handedness. But that’s not happening. I I I can have a dream scenario while also understanding that that’s what it is. And there’s pretty much a 0% chance that that’s how the Tigers look on opening day. If I’m wrong, I’ll be over the moon. Let’s talk about the other players from the Tigers organization that were a part of the Arizona Fall League as it officially has concluded. We’ll talk about that right after this. First though, got to talk to you’all about our friends over at FanDuel. The NBA is back, and there’s no better place to get in on the action than FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Even if you missed the start of a game or want to ride the hot hand, FanDuel has live bets on everything from who will score next to the fourth quarter comebacks you are watching. Plus, you can even combine your live bets for a same game parlay at a shot at a bigger payout. It keeps the game exciting, especially when your team is making that late push. Right now, FanDuel is giving new customers $300 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins. So, head to fanduel.com to sign up today and play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. All right, everybody. Welcome back here. Segment two, Locked on Tigers. Appreciate you all for tuning in as always, making us to our first listen every single day. Shout out to the Everydayers that do tune in every day. And we will of course be back tomorrow with We’ll talk about a little bit more at the end of the show. An episode doing a complete breakdown on everyone that is eligible to be taken in the rule five draft from the Tigers organization. who they could protect, who they should protect, who they will protect, and who they won’t protect. Do all of that on tomorrow. And I will also talk a little bit more about Glabber as his qualifying offer decision looms and is due on Tuesday as well. So, thank you for tuning in and making lockdown the number one sports podcast network. Today, we talk about the conclusion of the Arizona Fall League. We spent segment one discussing Kevin McGonagle, whether this changes every anything or everything, you know, to because he did so well in the AFL. Honestly, not really. I kind of have the exact same mindset I did. Um, he was always going to rake in the AFL. For everybody else from the Tigers organization that went to the Arizona Fall League, let’s talk about what changed with their stocks. The other big name to come out of the Arizona Fall League from the Tigers is obviously Max Anderson, who only played in 14 games, uh, but had a 1418 OPS, which actually led the entire Arizona Fall League. He had four home runs, three, nope, four home runs, 13 rather, RBI, 18 walks to just nine strikeouts. You played some third base as well over there. I actually think defense is a really big question for him as well. Maybe even more so than McGonagal and like McGonagal is, you know, like a borderline generational like hitting talent. So, not comparing the two of them as prospects, but it is really fascinating to see Anderson’s, I guess to use a hockey term, like deployment defensively. He’s played some third, he’s played some second over the last couple of years. They’re even listing him as a potential first base option going forward. Now, he’s played a few positions over the years, but I think that is more a result of him being positionless than versatile. You understand the difference, right? There there’s there’s players that like Luis Oras to me is positionless. He he played second for a little bit when he was in the minors. He played a few games at third, right? When he was a young major leager, obviously second, now plays first. That’s because they just want to find somewhere to play him, not because he’s actually good defensively at any of those. And I think that’s probably more in line with where Max Anderson stands at the present moment. Not that he is, you know, has like cinder blocks for shoes and like can’t move, but I I think that they would like to see some strides taken forward defensively. And I I think that there’s obviously an opening at third base going forward if and when or unless maybe I should say McGonagal takes it and runs with it for the foreseeable future. second base. You’re hoping that can be Colt Keith, but we don’t defensively again with him. Similar conversation. So, he probably falls a little bit more into that category. Um, we we’ll see. Again, I mean, there’s even talk about him getting some reps at first base going forward to see if he’s maybe a better fit there. Um, but regardless of the defense, his stock definitely went up this Arizona Fall League. A and that is after a regular season where I I feel like his stock definitely rose amongst the eyes of the front office and probably well I don’t know anybody in the front office. Maybe they already thought the world of him, but certainly in the eyes of the media and the fan base as well. So, personally, I think Max Anderson starting next year in Triple A is as lock of a lock as you can get. Um, but we’ll see. I I think he proved that he is better than the AFL, which is I I mean, I think that implies that he is not necessarily a major league talent right now, but he is better than the lower level of the minor league guys and is probably today aa talent, maybe on the cusp of like a quadruple AAA talent player. And then you’re hoping that he can develop into obviously more than that. He is 24 or next year will be rather his age 24 season. So guy that went to college was drafted out of college. So started a little bit older than you know somebody like McGonagal who was drafted out of high school. So we’ll see what happens with him. But certainly a guy that benefited a lot just in terms of reputation maybe more than anything by going to the AFL. Let’s talk about some pitching from the Tigers organization that played out west. Uh Kenny Surwa is is probably the biggest name of this group and that’s that’s more based on his story maybe than anything else, but still a really cool story at that. Had four starts in the AFL, 14 innings pitched, a 724 ERA, gave up 14 hits, 11 earned runs, 11 strikeouts, and 10 walks. His whip was 174. Obviously a rough go. Those aren’t great numbers. I I mean there’s a few things I want to point out here. One is like ultimately this is a guy that went viral on social media from indie ball from independent league non-affiliated nonprofessional baseball at like 26 years old. Like he’s 28, turns 29 next year. Um, there’s also in the AFL not a lot of pitchers that had very good numbers. Uh, the AFL is and was a launching pad in this season. Again, it always is. And I I think so the ERRA is is like kind of whatever to me. Like I I didn’t expect a knuckle baller to have a great RRA over there. I think the the point of contention here or the the areas that I am focused more on are strikeout and walks. I I I think the amount of walks is somewhat of an issue. Not that he had like Gregory Sodo or Alex Langwok numbers in the minor leagues, but they were slightly high this past season despite a sub4 erra during the regular season, which is probably a lot more indicative of his current talent level than the 724 ERA, but walk numbers were relatively high. And the biggest thing is he doesn’t really strike anybody out. Now again, he throws a knuckle ball, okay? like that is that like that that I especially in today’s day and age that’s ruled by velocity. You probably can presume you’re not going to get a ton of swing and miss with that. Um but he didn’t strike out batters in the minor leagues this year. He didn’t strike out a ton of batters in the AFL. So like this isn’t really changing my outlook on him going forward. It’s just kind of a reminder more so that he’s 28 almost 29 and in double A last year like for a reason and he will keep getting opportunities. I think he should. It’s still an awesome story for the Tigers to be a part of. It’s still a great thing to root for and I think it’s a unique enough repertoire that he has where it is well worth just seeing. while you like can still just give him minor league deals and like who cares, it’s still worth seeing if it can pan out. Um, but I I think it it certainly is proof that he still probably has a long way to go before we’re discussing like is there a chance he could make the major league roster, you know, like I’m not going to hit you with excuse me, hit you with that clickbait for for a while, I think is kind of my point. So, we’ll see what happens with him. Let’s talk Jake Miller and then a few other pitchers that went to the AFL from the Tigers organization. We will do that right after this. First though, got to talk to you all about our friends over at Game Time. Game time absolutely rocks. We talk about them all the time. The NFL season is back and honestly there’s nothing better than being in the stadium surrounded by fans cheering your team on. Oh, the the the atmosphere is just incredible. But let’s be honest, getting tickets can be a hassle between cues, login screens, and prices jumping at checkout. It’s frustrating. That’s why I use Game Time, the app that gives the advantage back to the fans. Game time is fast, it’s easy, and it’s backed by the Game Time guarantee, so you’ll always get 100% authentic tickets delivered on time and at the best price. Plus, all fees are included. So, the price you see is actually the price you pay. I pulled up Game Time and in just a couple of tabs, I saw amazing deals. I’m talking about your favorite NFL games, Lions games, for as low as $100. So, download the app today, create an account, and use code lockdown MLB for $20 off of your first purchase. Terms apply. Again, that’s promo code L O C K E D O N MLB for $20 off. Swipe, tap, ticket, go. Download Game Time today. All right, everybody. Welcome back here. Third and final segment. Locked on Tigers. Appreciate you all for tuning in as always, making us your first listen every single day. Today, we’re talking about the organization players that participated in the Arizona Fall League. Jake Miller, to my knowledge, someone can correct me if I’m wrong, to my knowledge, did not pitch in the AFL despite being named to the roster. Um, had an injury-riddled season. So, I’m just going to assume that it had to do with that and wanting to make sure that his health was a priority, maybe just wanting to be with the team, worked out with with everybody, you know, do some drills over there or whatever. Um, but he’s a lefty that really impressed in 2024 with his stuff and in spring training of 2025, pitched in a few of the Tiger spring training games and really kind of caught the eye of the fan base. So, kind of upsetting and sad that he didn’t get too many innings. I think only 2019 20 innings from him in the regular season this year. So, hopefully he gets back on the horse in 2026. Dariel Frigio, also a guy that the Tigers signed that was playing indie ball and went kind of viral on social media. Um, so the Tigers big players in the social media free agent market. I say tongue and cheek. Obviously, he got hit around two at a nine RA in 10 innings. Um, but again, like most pitchers, had really high ERAs out there. Not a very pitcher friendly environment. if uh if I do say so myself. The thing with him is very similar to the Surwa conversation where it’s like you know mid90s fastball and a sweeper which is actually nothing to do with Serwa the knuckle baller obviously. Um but the part that is similar is that he doesn’t really strike anybody out. He didn’t have great K numbers in the low levels. Pitched for West Michigan uh mostly this year. Didn’t have very high strikeout numbers there. Didn’t have a ton of strikeouts in the AFL. So, we’ll keep an eye on him, but has decent metrics and decent stuff, I should say. His uh his measurements are okay. So, we’ll see if that turns into anything. Um let’s see who’s next. Carlos Laquerica. I always have to say his last name very slowly because I screw it up very often. Had a 5.56 erra, which is comfortably the lowest we’ve discussed so far. Eight strikeouts and five walks. also had a pretty solid year in high single A. Um, actually, I’m pretty sure he had an immaculate inning at some point this season. I think that was a Tigers minor league report thing that I’m uh that I’m recalling. His shortcoming so far as a pro, this is going to shock you, has been a lack of swing and miss and strikeouts. So, that didn’t really get addressed too much, I would say. Uh, but his production was was relatively fine over there. And then lastly, we have Jack Penny, who is a middle infielder. Hit 278 with an 804 OPS, 15 walks in 16 games, but also had 20 strikeouts. He had great walk numbers in the AFL, had really solid walk numbers in the minor leagues this year. He was the fourth round pick, not in this most recent draft, but the year before, so the 2024 draft. Um, and yeah, like so far as a pro, this is kind of exactly how he’s looked. high batting average, zero power, walks a good amount, but also strikes out like a a decent amount. Not that it’s astronomically high, but it’s not very low either for a contact hitter with no power that works the strike zone. So, kind of interesting profile there. Only had two extra base hits the entire AFL. Um, so like what does all of this mean? I I just listed off all the players and their stats. None of them were super eye popping out of the big two at the top. I I don’t think this changes much for any of these guys. I think that the AFL is more a league to provide reps. It’s an opportunity for hitters to get more at bats that maybe miss some time this year or that you think just need more at bats and pitchers that miss time to get some innings. And that is what they received. So the hope is that Jake Miller is okay. And ultimately the only talking points are probably going to be Anderson and McGonagal out of the AFL. But even then, I think Anderson’s probably the only one who on this whole list that we talked about today who may have saw his stock rise solely because of an AFL performance and not, you know, like anything before it. So, there you go. Speaking of MVPs, the AL and NL most valuable players awards were announced at the end of last week. We have not had a chance to talk about it yet, obviously. The judge and Otani win again as they did both a year ago. Otani now has the second most most valuable player awards in MLB history. And I think he stands alone in that regard. I’m pretty sure it’s Bonds has seven and and won four in a row from 2000 to 2003, but or maybe it was 2001 to 2004. Either way, Bonds won four in a row and won seven total. Otani has four and three of those are in a row. Obviously a switch between the AL and NL mixed in there. I don’t think anybody else has more than three. So he’s incredible. Like I I I think he he’s des it’s deserved. The thing with Otani that’s interesting is he is such a transcendent talent that I actually I don’t think there will ever be voter fatigue and like Bonds was was like that and you know this isn’t like oh Barry Bonds didn’t cheat any like we we all know what it is what it is okay if we I’m not trying to start a Bonds dialogue here. All I’m saying is that is the when the numbers are so good a and when you know like he’s pitching and hitting like when when you’re doing something that’s so ridiculously above anything the game of baseball has ever seen before you know voter fatigue isn’t even really an issue and what he does is incredible and uh that’s four he’s still in his early 30s could easily bag another one or or or multiple. He’s one of, if not the greatest players to ever step foot on a field. It’s pretty unbelievable. The American League, Aaron Judge over Cal Raleigh. Kind of honestly exactly what we talked about last week might happen in the sense of like Judge probably gets it, but it’ll be really close and I don’t think it’s a robbery either way. Um, I would have loved to see Cal Raleigh get it just because he’s a catcher and it’s maybe the best catcher season literally of all time. Um, but in the same breath like Aaron Judge put up one of the best hitting seasons that we have ever seen from somebody not named, you know, like Bonds or Ruth maybe. Like it it truly was up in uh in that level of conversation. It was so incredible. And he also had one of the most valuable seasons in I mean my lifetime. not not the most valuable, okay, but it’s again it’s up there. In terms of Detroit Tigers that received votes this year, two gentlemen, TKO finished fifth in MVP voting. I think that’s awesome that on TKO’s BF page for the rest of his career, rest of his life, it’s going to say that in this year he was a top five MVP vote getter as a pitcher. That’s awesome. Riley Green 17th in MVP voting. So, he will have MVP hyphen 17 next to his name on BF going forward for this season as well. That’s all I got. We got a Tuesday deadline. Today, obviously, is Monday. Uh on Tuesday, we have Glabber needs to make his qualifying offer decision by Tuesday afternoon. Um, not a whole lot of news on that front over the weekend, but I’m pretty sure it’ll be relatively quiet until he like makes the decision at this point. Like that that’s either usually the QO is something that you either decline right away, accept right away, or wait until the very like no one makes the decision with like three days left. like it’s either you do it immediately or because you know exactly what you want to do with it or you wait and make it public at the last possible moment. It’s all about a multi-year deal. We’ve talked about that a lot. Also, players have to be protected from the rule five draft and added to the 40man roster by Tuesday afternoon. We’ll do a full breakdown on tomorrow’s show where we talk about the decisions that loom uh for that Tuesday afternoon deadline. And on a Wednesday, we’ll talk about what ended up happening, what they did, what Glaver’s decision was, all that stuff. So, uh, thanks for making Lockdown, Tigers, your first listen every single day. Shout out to the Everyday that do tune in every day. We will of course be back tomorrow with all that. Peace and love going to Theres Dope. Rest in peace to Tom Timberman, Detroit Tigers pitcher in the late 60s, early 70s era. Tigers lose another uh didn’t play for the Tigers for super long. Uh only five or six years, four or five years. Um but uh was certainly one of the uh the better pitchers on that team for that short period of time out of the bullpen for Detroit. So rest in peace. Praying for him and his family. Peace and love. Going to therapies do. We’ll catch you all tomorrow, baby. Go Tigers.

Detroit Tigers prospect Kevin McGonagall captures Arizona Fall League MVP. Could his breakout pave the way for an MLB debut in 2026? The Tigers continue their dominance in AFL honors, while roster questions linger about third base and the futures of Glaber Torres and Alex Bregman.

Scott Bentley breaks down McGonagall’s eye-popping stats, Max Anderson’s surging stock, and defensive concerns swirling around Detroit’s young infield talent. The episode spotlights minor league standouts Kenny Serwa and Jake Miller, plus insight on pitchers’ struggles in the hitter-friendly AFL. Additional topics include AL/NL MVP winners Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, Tarek Skubal’s top-5 finish, and key deadlines for qualifying offers and Rule 5 draft protection. Will the Tigers’ youth movement spark a new era in Detroit?

00:00 MLB Updates: AFL, MVPs, Deadlines
05:01 “MLB Shortstop Uncertainty and Roster Moves”
07:36 Roster Moves and Positional Uncertainty
09:52 Tigers, AFL, and FanDuel
15:11 Max Anderson’s AAA Future
18:57 Tigers’ Prospects in AFL Spotlight
21:31 Tigers’ Pitcher Hopes for Comeback
24:59 “AFL Purpose and MVP Winners”
29:33 “Upcoming MLB Roster Decisions”
30:24 Peace, Love, and Gratitude

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