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Detroit Tigers top prospect Kevin McGonigle seems pretty comfortable at the major league level, but a veteran doesn’t want him to get too comfortable.
McGonigle made the Tigers’ Opening Day team, and he showed why he deserved it by scoring four hits in his MLB debut.
McGonigle was back in action Friday in San Diego against the Padres, and in the top of the second inning he threw a ball to deep center field that traveled 403 feet. However, Jackson Merrill pounced and robbed McGonigle of his first home run.
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Kevin McGonigle of the Detroit Tigers celebrates after hitting a two-run single against the San Diego Padres in the eighth inning at Petco Park on March 27, 2026, in San Diego, California. (Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
In the bottom half of the inning, after Merrill doubled, McGonigle appeared to compliment Merrill on his catch, for which Merrill thanked him.
But that didn’t happen before Merrill joked about McGonigle’s big opening day.
“You had four yesterday!” Merrill told the rookie.
McGonigle became the 21st player in MLB history to have four hits in his MLB debut and the first to do so since JP Arancibia in 2010.
Jackson Merrill of the San Diego Padres makes a jumper during the game against the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park on March 27, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)
ALEX VESIA, DODGERS PITCH WHO LOST HIS DAUGHTER AS A CHILD, RECEIVES A STANDING OVATION AFTER A SCORELESS RETURN TO THE MOUND
Merrill’s stolen home run provided an early boost, but McGonigle got revenge with a game-winning two-run single in a four-run eighth inning for Detroit en route to a 5-2 victory.
The Tigers snuffed out a double-digit AL Central lead last season, but still managed to advance to the American League Division Series after beating the same team that had passed them in the standings in the Cleveland Guardians.
Kevin McGonigle of the Detroit Tigers celebrates after hitting a two-run single against the San Diego Padres in the eighth inning at Petco Park on March 27, 2026, in San Diego, California. (Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
The Padres played more baseball in October as a wild-card team as the Los Angeles Dodgers won another NL West title before repeating as World Series champions.
