After an important displaying in spring coaching, rookie infielder Kevin McGonigle made the Detroit Tigers’ Opening Day roster, the team announced Tuesday. The Pennsylvania native is baseball’s No. 2 prospect behind Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Konnor Griffin.
The Tigers open Thursday at San Diego.
In 19 spring coaching video games, McGonigle batted .250 with a .923 OPS, two doubles, a triple, two dwelling runs and 6 RBI. McGonigle was a non-roster invite to spring coaching, so he should be added to the Tigers’ 40-man roster.
In three ranges of Detroit’s group final season (Class A to Class AAA), McGonigle batted .305 with a .991 OPS, 19 dwelling runs and 80 RBI.
McGonigle fashions his taking part in model after Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, who was his favourite participant rising up. Utley was an important hitter — a profession .275 batting common and .823 OPS — and the six-time All-Star had nice command of the strike zone, as McGonigle does.
Primarily a shortstop, McGonigle may play third and second base. In 1,100.1 innings at shortstop within the minors, McGonigle had a .951 fielding proportion. In 101.1 innings at third base, McGonigle posted an ideal fielding proportion (1.000).
Tigers supervisor A.J. Hinch performed McGonigle at third base towards the tip of spring coaching to extend his probabilities of making the roster. McGonigle may very well be the Tigers’ beginning shortstop or the third baseman.
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