Detroit Tigers top prospect Kevin McGonigle is most likely to become a major leaguer in 2026, but it’s unclear when that will happen.
McGonigal, the consensus No. 2 prospect in baseball, has looked like a major leaguer with six hits and two runs in 17 Grapefruit League games so far for the Tigers. He was also praised for his defense at shortstop, and he performed well in support of left-handed ace Tarik Skubal early in a 4-4 draw with the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, March 1.
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So if McGonigal is ready for the majors, the Tigers would add him to the 26-man roster as soon as possible, right?
perhaps. Or maybe not.
While McGonigle looks like he could make an immediate positive impact and could potentially be an upgrade over other players like Wensel Perez, some believe the Tigers will have to wait until May or even August to advance their top pick.
Let’s break down the pros and cons of the Tigers drafting McGonigal at various points this season.
Evan Petzold: Kevin McGonigal answers biggest question, looks ready to play shortstop
If Kevin McGonigal makes the Tigers’ Opening Day roster…
advantage: The Tigers acquired McGonigal’s full-year draft rights as a potential Prospect Promotion Incentive (PPI) pick.
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shortcoming: The Tigers began running the clock on McGonigal’s service time.
Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigal throws to first base during the first inning against the New York Yankees at George Steinbrenner Field on Saturday, February 21, 2026, in Tampa, Florida.
If the Tigers are going to keep Kevin McGonigle out of spring training, they’ll be hoping he can add popularity to the lineup. This is a big deal for the Tigers who want to win now, as it’s possible Detroit won’t have to spend assets through trades to upgrade its roster during the season.
The Tigers also could benefit from a PPI pick if they draft McGonigal within the first two weeks of the season. If McGonigal plays a full season with the Tigers and wins American League Rookie of the Year (or finishes in the top three in the MVP race in any of his first three seasons), the Tigers will be compensated with an additional draft pick after the first round of the following year’s draft.
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Those two reasons sound ideal for a team that wants to win now and try to sustain success for multiple seasons. However, some believe the Tigers should have waited to promote McGonigal.
If the Tigers promote Kevin McGonigal in mid-April…
advantage: The Tigers spent most of the season under McGonigal, retaining an extra year of service time.
shortcoming: There is no PPI option.
Detroit Tigers head coach AJ Hinch, president of baseball operations Scott Harris and team owner Chris Ilitch watch spring training at TigerTown on Friday, February 20, 2026 in Lakeland, Florida.
Of the three options presented here, this one is the least likely to happen. Why?
If the Tigers wait at least two weeks after Opening Day to promote McGonigle, they’ll lose any chance of acquiring a PPI pick and lose McGonigle’s two weeks on the roster.
But the Tigers had a major motivation for waiting until mid-April to draft McGonigal: manipulating the timing of the serve.
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If the Tigers wait a little longer for McGonigal’s service time (at least 15 days from Opening Day, to be precise), McGonigal would become a free agent in 2032 instead of 2031. For a talent like McGonigal, an extra year of cost control is valuable, especially if the cost is just a two-week wait and the loss of a draft pick.
Of course, this is just the cost on paper. Many fans, agents and players are unhappy with the manipulation of top prospects’ service times, which could be a bad look for the Tigers. Plus, there’s a less sneaky way to retain an extra year before free agency.
If the Tigers promote Kevin McGonigal in mid-August…
advantage: The Tigers acquired McGonigal at the end of the season, keeping him on the free agent market for an extra year and retaining his rookie eligibility in 2027.
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shortcoming: The Tigers were without McGonigal for most of the 2026 season.
Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle bats during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Publix Field at Clowney Marchant Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Lakeland, Florida.
Before the start of spring training, this seemed like the most likely outcome for McGonigal, and for a lot of good reasons.
If McGonigal spends less than 45 days on the Tigers’ major league roster in 2026, he will retain rookie eligibility in 2027. That means the Tigers could draft McGonigal for the late-season pennant chase in 2026 and still potentially acquire a PPI draft pick at a later date, since he would be considered a rookie on the 2027 Opening Day roster.
Calling up McGonigle at the end of the 2026 season would also make him a free agent in 2032 instead of 2031, giving the Tigers an extra year before hitting free agency while preserving potential PPI draft picks.
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Such a late move also gives McGonigal, who has never played a game at Double-A Erie, extra time in the minors to refine his game.
However, this approach has a big drawback. The Tigers appear to be going all-in in 2026, the last guaranteed year of Skubal’s contract. There is an argument to be made that the Tigers are a better team with McGonigal than without him, and that the Tigers would have been worse for most of the season had McGonigal been left in the minor leagues.
Whether this is true remains to be determined. McGonigal looks like a major league shortstop but has yet to pitch in an MLB game, and it might be wise to let him get some experience in the regular season with Triple-A Toledo before bringing him to the majors.
No matter which decision the Tigers make, only time will tell if it’s the right one.
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You can contact Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared in the Detroit Free Press: Why Kevin McGonigal could be left off the Detroit Tigers’ Opening Day roster