NORTH PORT, FL – The Detroit Tigers lost to the Atlanta Braves, 8-1, at CoolToday Park on Tuesday, Feb. 24, in spring training.
Detroit is 0-3 in Grapefruit League play.
What happened
Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (85) dives back to first base in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
IN DEPTH: How Kevin McGonigle looked in Tigers game vs ex-All-Star pitcher
Advertisement
At times, this game felt like a showcase for some of the Tigers’ top prospects. In the second inning, third baseman Hao-Yu Lee (grounder), shortstop Kevin McGonigle (grounder) and left fielder Max Anderson (fly ball) recorded outs on successive plays.
But the highlights were far and few between on this day when Tigers bats were mostly silent.
The sun and wind played havoc on the Tigers – OK, mostly on left fielder Max Clark, the Tigers’ 2023 top pick (at No. 3 overall) who misplayed two balls, one of which was ruled an error.
Detroit Tigers left fielder Max Clark (84) drops a fly ball in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
And the Tigers are still searching for their first win in Grapefruit League play.
Advertisement
Enmanuel De Jesus starts it off
Enmanuel De Jesus, an intriguing 29-year-old lefty who spent the past two seasons as a starter in the KBO League in South Korea, got the start for the Tigers.
De Jesus got into trouble in the first inning, although only partially by his own making. After Ronald Acuña Jr. walked, Matt Olson hit a high fly ball to left field on an extremely windy, bright day. Clark missed the ball, either because of the sun or wind, and it was ruled a hit. But Acuna was picked off stealing. Then, Austin Riley hit a ball into the right-field corner that could have been the end of the inning. Wenceel Pérez made an attempt to catch the ball but the wind blew it into the wall. With new life, Riley hit a deep fly ball to left that Clark, again either lost it in the sun or misjudged it because of the wind; this time, he was charged with an error.
1 / 17
Detroit Tigers hit the road to face Atlanta Braves in spring training
Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows (22) prepares to take batting practice before the game against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
1 / 17
Detroit Tigers hit the road to face Atlanta Braves in spring training
Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows (22) prepares to take batting practice before the game against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
2 / 17
Detroit Tigers hit the road to face Atlanta Braves in spring training
Detroit Tigers second baseman Zach McKinstry (39) prepares to take batting practice before the game against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
3 / 17
Detroit Tigers hit the road to face Atlanta Braves in spring training
Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (85) prepares to take batting practice before the game against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
4 / 17
Detroit Tigers hit the road to face Atlanta Braves in spring training
Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (85) prepares to take batting practice before the game against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
5 / 17
Detroit Tigers hit the road to face Atlanta Braves in spring training
Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (85) prepares to take batting practice before the game against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
6 / 17
Detroit Tigers hit the road to face Atlanta Braves in spring training
Detroit Tigers left fielder Max Clark (84) exits the batting cage before the game against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
7 / 17
Detroit Tigers hit the road to face Atlanta Braves in spring training
Detroit Tigers left fielder Max Clark (84) exits the batting cage before the game against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
8 / 17
Detroit Tigers hit the road to face Atlanta Braves in spring training
Detroit Tigers left fielder Max Clark (84) prepares to take batting practice before the game against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
9 / 17
Detroit Tigers hit the road to face Atlanta Braves in spring training
Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (85) dives back to first base in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
10 / 17
Detroit Tigers hit the road to face Atlanta Braves in spring training
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Enmanuel De Jesus (76) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
11 / 17
Detroit Tigers hit the road to face Atlanta Braves in spring training
Detroit Tigers left fielder Max Clark (84) drops a fly ball in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
12 / 17
Detroit Tigers hit the road to face Atlanta Braves in spring training
Detroit Tigers right fielder Wenceel Perez (46) catches a fly ball in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
13 / 17
Detroit Tigers hit the road to face Atlanta Braves in spring training
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Enmanuel De Jesus (76) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
14 / 17
Detroit Tigers hit the road to face Atlanta Braves in spring training
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez (40) throws a pitch in the second inning against the Detroit Tigers during spring training at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
15 / 17
Detroit Tigers hit the road to face Atlanta Braves in spring training
Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) waits for the ball as Detroit Tigers second baseman Zach McKinstry (39) slides into second base in the second inning during spring training at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
16 / 17
Detroit Tigers hit the road to face Atlanta Braves in spring training
Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (85) throws to first base in the second inning against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
17 / 17
Detroit Tigers hit the road to face Atlanta Braves in spring training
Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson (28) fields a ground ball in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers during spring training at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
De Jesus was stretched out and able to last 3⅓ innings, in large part because he pitched in the Venezuelan Winter League, where he led his hometown club to a championship.
Advertisement
De Jesus allowed two hits and a walk in giving up three runs, none earned.
De Jesus, who signed a minor-league deal this offseason, will pitch one more time for the Tigers before leaving to pitch for Team Venezuela in the WBC.
At the plate
The Tigers had an interesting challenge early in this game in facing right-hander Reynaldo López. The 32-year-old was a 2024 All Star but pitched in only one game in 2025 because of injuries.
McGonigle, a 2023 first-round pick and baseball’s No. 2 ranked prospect (per Baseball America), started at shortstop and batted second in the Tigers order, right behind Parker Meadows. McGonigle worked the count to 3-1 before singling to center. Then, he stole second base with ease. But he was stranded at second when Jahmai Jones struck out.
Advertisement
In the fifth inning, Jace Jung – the Tigers’ first-round pick in 2022 – singled to left, driving in Clark. But then Jung tried to stretch it into a double and inexplicably decided not to slide. He was thrown out.
Trei Cruz, a 2020 third-round pick who is trying to make the Tigers as a utility player, showed off his bat, hammering a double in the eighth inning.
On the mound
De Jesus was the star of the day for the Tigers on the mound, throwing 3⅓ innings while not allowing an earned run.
In the fifth inning, Braves first baseman Matt Olson hammered a pitch thrown by Matt Seelinger. The ball landed on top of a two-story building in right field, bounced off the roof and disappeared out of sight – much like the chances of the Tigers winning this game.
Advertisement
Seelinger (two earned runs in 1⅓ innings), Drew Sommers (two earned runs in one inning) and Ricky Vanasco (one earned run in one inning) were all roughed up by the Braves.
Three stars
1. Enmanuel De Jesus, 2. Kevin McGonigle, 3. Trei Cruz.
Next up
Split-squad games: Wednesday vs. Toronto Blue Jays in Lakeland (1:05 p.m.) and vs. Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater (1:05 p.m., MLB Network).
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers’ top prospects get plenty of work in loss to Braves