Listen, I know it’s early.
The Detroit Tigers have played only 16 games, which is roughly 10% of their season. Obviously, they have just begun a long journey. So, let’s consider this just a snapshot in time.
Here are 10 observations, thoughts, anecdotes and tidbits about the Tigers to this point:
1. What player has had biggest impact?
I was walking toward Kevin McGonigle’s locker in the Tigers clubhouse when something interesting happened on Sunday, April 12.
Jahmai Jones, who was sitting a few seats away, mimicked the voice of a reporter: “Kevin, what’s it like to be the best player… “
Jones didn’t finish his thought. He just smiled.
OK, that’s not what I was going to ask McGonigle but it did make me wonder: To this point, who has been the Tigers’ best player?
For a second, I thought about catcher Dillon Dingler, who has jacked three homers, played tremendous behind the plate and changed games with his knack for winning Automated Ball-Strike system challenges.
I considered third baseman Colt Keith, who is off to an equally tremendous start with a .340 average, tied for sixth-best in the American League.
But I’m gonna go with McGonigle, who has been fantastic on defense – making darn near every play – while emerging as a critical spark offensively.
And the stats back it up. McGonigle has had a huge impact on this team.
According to FanGraphs, McGonigle leads the Tigers with 0.9 WAR, followed by Dingler (0.6), Keith (0.4) and Javier Báez (0.3).
Celebrate Kevin McGonigle’s electric rookie season!
Don’t like how they formulate that WAR? Let’s go to another.
According to Baseball Reference, McGonigle has 1.0 WAR, just edging Dingler at 0.9. Keith and Parker Meadows, meanwhile, have 0.4 WAR apiece.
2. A voice of baseball past
Not a big fan of the stats? Especially this early? Fair enough. Let’s just go to the voice of a Hall of Famer.
Here’s what Tigers great Alan Trammell said about McGonigle on Saturday: “He’s different.”
No argument here.
3. A.J. Hinch’s superpower
One small moment from spring training has stuck in my head.
And it sums up how Tigers manager A.J. Hinch works his magic.
After the Tigers returned from a trip to the Dominican Republic, Hinch mentioned how he had gone several days without talking to multiple players who had stayed in Lakeland. You could tell it was an uncomfortable situation for Hinch, being out of touch with any of his players even for a few days.
That’s how much he communicates with every player in the clubhouse.
And it’s the root of his success as a manager.
4. Who is next?
On Saturday, I asked Toledo manager Gabe Alvarez who could move up and help the Tigers?
He answered without pause: Gage Workman, a versatile infielder who is hitting .375 with a 1.090 OPS.
“Gage Workman’s playing really well, really swinging the bat,” Alvarez said in Toledo. “He’s a great baserunner. He can steal a base for you. He’s a plus defender at multiple positions – short, third or second.”
Speaking of Workman, consider the talent the Tigers found in the 2020 MLB Draft.
First round: Spencer Torkelson.
Second round: Dingler.
Fourth round: Workman.
Fifth round: Colt Keith.
Not a bad draft … for former Tigers GM Al Avila.
Workman has had a strange journey to this point. After being drafted by the Tigers, the Chicago Cubs took him in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft and he played nine MLB games. Then, the Cubs traded him cross-town to the Chicago White Sox, who eventually returned him to the Tigers.
“He’s extremely athletic,” Alvarez said. “Kind of brings a lot to the table and he’s maturing as a player.”
5. A touching tribute
This was one of those lump in the throat moments that was both cool and touching at the same time.
At the start of his press conference Sunday, Hinch dedicated the Tigers’ win over the Miami Marlins to Phil Garner, the former Tigers manager who died over the weekend at the age of 76.
“Became a really close friend,” Hinch said. “Cared a lot about Detroit. … Was a big advocate for Detroit. … A true gentleman in the game.”
6. Game respects game
Kerry Carpenter can’t quite believe what McGonigle has done as a rookie.
“Sometimes I just wonder if he’s ever gonna swing and miss or strike out,” Carpenter said. “It’s not that easy to hit, and he kind of makes it look easy.”
But it starts with McGonigle’s unwavering confidence.
“We’re in the dugout talking about the pitcher and the conviction that he speaks with is like, he’s been in the league for 20 years,” Carpenter said. “That is not normal. God has blessed him with the ability to hit, and he’s done well with it.”
7. Not easy being Greene
Riley Greene went 2-for-3 on Sunday and has reached base safely in all 16 games this year. He’s the first Tiger to do that since Brandon Inge put together a 24-game season-opening streak in 2009.
Also of note, Greene is one double shy of 100 for his career. He would become only the 14th player in franchise history to reach 100 doubles before his 26th birthday (which arrives in late September).
8 Confidence growing over time
How does making the postseason for two straight years impact a team?
Jones had an interesting take: “Every guy in here who came back from last year understood what happened in Seattle, how close we were in Seattle, and the team that we had in Seattle. When you look around the locker room, all those experiences, they’re compounding. You look up and it’s like, okay, we’ve been in this situation before. We’ve lost games and we’ve won games, but now you add some dynamic pieces.”
Yes, pieces like McGonigle.
9. Appreciation for Javy
At times, it’s easy to take Báez for granted.
But his unselfishness, his willingness to play any position, is so critical to this team, especially after Parker Meadows’ injury.
Back on April 5, Hinch told Baez that he was going to sit for a game.
“I don’t ever ambush Javy with anything, and he’s willing to do anything,” Hinch said. “When I went to find him, to tell him that he wasn’t playing, he was soft-tossing with his kids after the game. So I mean, Javy is in a really good place emotionally. He said, ‘Let me know what you need.’”
That kind of attitude is invaluable and should be celebrated.
“I’m very fortunate to have someone like Javy who understands what we’re trying to build a team here,” Hinch said, “and we’re trying to use all of our players the best way we can.”
10. One prospect through eyes of another
Has McGonigle been perfect?
No. He had a throwing error.
But for the most part, he has been rock-solid.
Even better than that, really.
“Kevin’s a different animal,” Tigrs prospect Max Clark said Saturday in Toledo. “People have always underrated the defense. They underrated the pop because they didn’t want to give out a power grade for a guy that’s a tad bit undersized, and he’s continued to prove them wrong. It’s so cool from my perspective, because that guy works harder than anybody I know. I saw him coming up, obviously, putting in hours with Tram at shortstop, at third. And now, his defense is almost elite, not just good, it’s almost elite.”
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 10 big thoughts on Detroit Tigers and why Kevin McGonigle is special
Reporting by Jeff Seidel, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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