LAKELAND, FL – Detroit Tigers top prospects Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark received invitations to MLB spring training for the first time – and both of them are set to compete against fellow prospects at the end of camp.
McGonigle and Clark will play in the 2026 Spring Breakout game.
The Tigers are playing against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a prospect-only showcase, scheduled for 7:35 p.m. March 20 at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. In the past two years, Hall of Fame shortstop Alan Trammell – a special assistant in the Tigers front office – managed the Tigers in the Spring Breakout game.
These are the 40 players on the roster, including 19 prospects from the Tigers’ top-30 list (as ranked by MLB Pipeline):
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McGonigle, a 21-year-old shortstop who hasn’t played above Double-A Erie, is competing in the Spring Breakout game. For now, he remains in the mix to earn a spot on the Tigers’ Opening Day roster.
On March 21, the day after the Spring Breakout game, the big-league Tigers leave Florida after completing their Grapefruit League schedule.
From there, the Tigers will play two exhibition games March 23-24 against the Colorado Rockies in Scottsdale, Arizona, before 2026 Tigers Opening Day on March 26 against the San Diego Padres in San Diego.
Two of prospects on the Spring Breakout roster made MLB Pipeline’s top-100 prospects list: McGonigle at No. 2 and Clark at No. 10.
Shortstop Bryce Rainer, the Tigers’ No. 3 prospect (and MLB’s No. 35 prospect), isn’t on the roster because he continues to rehab from last year’s right shoulder surgery; Briceño, a catcher/first baseman who ranks as the Tigers’ No. 4 prospect (and MLB’s No. 40 prospect), won’t play due to a recent right wrist injury.
Other injured prospects include Lee (No. 6), Franyerber Montilla (No. 12), Jake Miller (No. 16) and Pacheco (No. 22), though both Lee and Pacheco are on the Spring Breakout roster.
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2026 Spring Breakout roster
Right-handed pitchers (14): Lucas Elissalt, Ty Madden, Dylan Smith, Max Alba, Rayner Castillo, Dariel Fregio, Marco Jimenez, Tanner Kohlhepp, Carlos Marcano, Trevin Michael, Hayden Minton, Moises Rodriguez, Yosber Sanchez, Kenny Serwa.
Left-handed pitchers (4): Joe Miller, Gabriel Reyes, Johan Simon, Drew Sommers.
Catchers (4): Josue Briceño, Thayron Liranzo, Michael Oliveto, Ricardo Hurtado.
Infielders (12): Max Anderson, Trei Cruz, Peyton Graham, Woody Hadeen, Hao-Yu Lee, Kevin McGonigle, Izaac Pacheco, John Peck, Jack Penney, Eduardo Valencia, Jude Warwick, Jordan Yost.
Outfielders (6): Max Clark, Cris Rodriguez, Nick Dumesnil, Jackson Strong, Brett Callahan, Ben Malgeri.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers Spring Breakout roster has 40 prospects including Kevin McGonigle
Reporting by Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
