SCOTTSDALE, AZ – The wait continues.
The Detroit Tigers – led by president of baseball operations Scott Harris and manager A.J. Hinch – will make their Opening Day roster decision about top prospect Kevin McGonigle before facing the San Diego Padres on Thursday, March 26, to open the 2026 season.
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“We haven’t made any decision yet,” Hinch said before Monday’s exhibition game against the Colorado Rockies.
ROSTER PREDICTION 3.0: Final battles down to wire, including Kevin McGonigle decision
Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle bats at live batting practice during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026.
Expect the McGonigle decision to happen after Wednesday’s workout at Petco Park in San Diego, along with other roster moves. By Wednesday, MLB teams must submit their finalized 26-man Opening Day rosters.
The 21-year-old shortstop hasn’t played above Double-A, but he ranks as the consensus No. 2 prospect in baseball. As an organizational philosophy, the Tigers want all of their prospects to play in Triple-A before making their MLB debuts as part of the development process.
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McGonigle could be an exception.
“It’s coming down to the wire,” Hinch said. “We have a number of roster decisions to make. I have a lot of conversations to have. He’s put himself in a position to factor in.”
McGonigle has asked about his roster status.
Hinch has sent a clear message.
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Kevin McGonigle enjoying his first Detroit Tigers spring training
Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle bats at live batting practice during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026.
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Kevin McGonigle enjoying his first Detroit Tigers spring training
Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle bats at live batting practice during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026.
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Kevin McGonigle enjoying his first Detroit Tigers spring training
Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle practices during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026.
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Kevin McGonigle enjoying his first Detroit Tigers spring training
Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle practices during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026.
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Kevin McGonigle enjoying his first Detroit Tigers spring training
Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle bats at live batting practice during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026.
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Kevin McGonigle enjoying his first Detroit Tigers spring training
Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle bats at live batting practice during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026.
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Kevin McGonigle enjoying his first Detroit Tigers spring training
Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle watches live batting practice during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026.
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Kevin McGonigle enjoying his first Detroit Tigers spring training
Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle bats at practice during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026.
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Kevin McGonigle enjoying his first Detroit Tigers spring training
Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle practices during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026.
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Kevin McGonigle enjoying his first Detroit Tigers spring training
From left Detroit Tigers infielder Zach McKinstry, infielder Kevin McGonigle and first baseman Spencer Torkelson walk toward the practice field during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026.
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Kevin McGonigle enjoying his first Detroit Tigers spring training
Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle waves at fans on his way to practice during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026.
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Kevin McGonigle enjoying his first Detroit Tigers spring training
Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle, left, and infielder Colt Keith watch live batting practice during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026.
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Kevin McGonigle enjoying his first Detroit Tigers spring training
Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle practices during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026.
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Kevin McGonigle enjoying his first Detroit Tigers spring training
Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle practices during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.
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Kevin McGonigle enjoying his first Detroit Tigers spring training
Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle practices during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026.
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Kevin McGonigle enjoying his first Detroit Tigers spring training
Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle signs autographs for fans after practice at spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026.
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Kevin McGonigle enjoying his first Detroit Tigers spring training
Detroit Tigers Triple-A hitting coach Mike Hessman, left, talks to infielder Kevin McGonigle at practice during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026.
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Kevin McGonigle enjoying his first Detroit Tigers spring training
Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle practices during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026.
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Kevin McGonigle enjoying his first Detroit Tigers spring training
Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle runs a drill at practice during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.
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Kevin McGonigle enjoying his first Detroit Tigers spring training
Detroit Tigers infielder Hao-Yu Lee, left, and infielder Kevin McGonigle practice during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026.
“I keep telling him, ‘Control what you can control,’ which is … continue to put his best foot forward,” Hinch said. “He’s been incredible this spring, both on the field and how he’s dealt with all of this attention and all of this curiosity around where he’s going to be on Opening Day.”
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If the Tigers put McGonigle on the Opening Day roster, they’ll receive a top draft pick if he wins American League Rookie of the Year. If the Tigers keep McGonigle in Triple-A Toledo for at least two weeks, and he fails to win AL Rookie of the Year upon his promotion, they’ll gain an extra year of club control before he reaches free agency.
Here’s another scenario: If the Tigers wait until mid-August to call him up, McGonigle would have his rookie eligibility delayed until the 2027 season – creating an opportunity for the Tigers to secure both a top draft pick and an extra year of club control, rather than one or the other.
Service time hasn’t been a part of Hinch’s conversations with Harris.
“We haven’t talked about it once,” Hinch said. “Every organization knows the benefits for one team, whoever has the Rookie of the Year, but that has not factored into my conversations with the [front] office. It’s been all about winning – if he can help us win and give us the best chance to win the [AL] Central and beyond. And that’s why he still in camp.”
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Entering Monday, McGonigle has played in 21 games during spring training, including 19 in the Grapefruit League and two in an exhibition series against Team Dominican Republic. He has hit .289 (13-for-45) with three home runs, 13 walks and 10 strikeouts, spanning 59 plate appearances – impressing with elite swing decisions. He also has showcased he can handle shortstop (and third base) at the highest level, which was the biggest question coming into camp.
In 2025, McGonigle reached the Double-A level – hitting .254 with 12 home runs, 33 walks and 26 strikeouts across 46 games, registering a .919 OPS with Erie. He also hit .372 with a 1.110 OPS in 36 games for High-A West Michigan.
McGonigle appears ready for his MLB debut.
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But that’s up to the Tigers.
“We’ll take as much time as we need,” Hinch said. “But clearly, the decision is coming pretty soon.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers ready for Kevin McGonigle decision for Opening Day