SAN DIEGO – Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch had to make two decisions about top prospect Kevin McGonigle when filling out the lineup card for 2026 Opening Day.
The first: Where to play him in the field?
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The second: Where to put him in the lineup?
For Opening Day on Thursday, March 26 (4:10 p.m., Detroit SportsNet), McGonigle is playing third base and batting sixth for the Tigers in his MLB debut against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park, facing right-hander Nick Pivetta. The 21-year-old is the consensus No. 2 prospect in baseball.
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Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle throws towards the first base against New York Yankees during the first inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla. on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.
Left-hander Tarik Skubal – the reigning two-time American League Cy Young winner – is making his third consecutive Opening Day start for the Tigers.
Here is the starting lineup for Game 1 of 162:
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The Tigers have four other position players on their bench:
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers Opening Day lineup: Kevin McGonigle behind Tarik Skubal