The Tigers’ 2027 Opening Day lineup could have a very different look, and the biggest theme is obvious: the kids are here.
Detroit came out of the 2026 season with more questions than answers after a highly anticipated year went sideways in May and August. Scott Harris now has to clean it up and steer the club back toward playoff contention next season, even with a probable lockout looming when the Collective Bargaining Agreement expires on December 1st.
For now, the early picture starts with a lineup that’s built only from the roster as it stands before any free-agent moves or injuries. That means Gleyber Torres is left out, with the 29-year-old expected to test free agency after accepting Detroit’s qualifying offer last season.
One of the biggest infield decisions will be where to plant Kevin McGonigle. He logged 78 games at shortstop and 72 at third base, and Harris made it clear the club wants that flexibility to work in its favor.
"We are going to make that decision based on what the roster actually looks like," Harris said, per Jason Beck of MLB.com. "But [McGonigle's] ability to move positions is only going to make us better because it's only going to improve the ability for A.J. [Hinch] to not only build stronger lineups to match up against an opposing starter, but also to strengthen our defense."
McGonigle’s rookie season was the kind that turns heads fast. He led the Tigers in hits with 168, stolen bases with 12, on-base percentage at .376, and runs scored with 97. He’s already a central piece of what Detroit is trying to build.
The rest of the infield brings its own mix of promise and uncertainty. Max Lee finished strong and could get a shot at second base if Torres departs.
Colt Keith, who put up similar numbers in 2025, still looks like a valuable part of the infield mix. Spencer Torkelson’s season was a rough one, capped by a career-high 194 strikeouts, but a better September gave Detroit something to hang onto as he tries to get his confidence back.
In the outfield, Riley Greene and Max Clark look locked in. Greene missed key time in August and September, but he still put together an All-Star season with 21 home runs and 75 RBIs. Clark, called up in July, gave the lineup an immediate jolt and now looks set for a full season in the majors.
Even with that young core, this is far from a finished product. The Tigers could still chase a veteran outfielder or designated hitter to help the offense. And with plenty of months still to go, the Opening Day lineup is going to keep changing.
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