The Detroit Tigers got the jolt they needed on Monday, and Kevin McGonigle supplied it with one violent swing.
After Minnesota struck first in the opening inning, Detroit answered immediately when McGonigle, working through an 11-game slump, crushed Joe Ryan’s 95.1 mph fastball into the right-field seats for a game-tying solo homer. The rookie had been just 6-for-43 over that stretch, but he snapped it in style, pulling a two-strike four-seam fastball with authority for his 15th home run.
Statcast clocked the ball off McGonigle’s bat at 108.4 mph, and it traveled an estimated 375 feet. The homer also ended a power drought that had lasted since Aug. 23.
“It was nice to answer back right away,” McGonigle said, according to MLB.com’s Jason Beck. “It’s also nice to see one leave.”
Detroit went on to beat Minnesota 5-4, avoiding another painful finish after dropping three straight games on walk-offs in Cleveland during its previous series. The Tigers added two runs in the second inning, then Riley Greene widened the gap with a two-run homer in the fifth. Minnesota trimmed the lead to one before the night was over, which made McGonigle’s early blast even more valuable in the final margin.
The homer was a welcome sign for a young hitter going through the longest season of his professional life. McGonigle reached the majors without playing at Triple-A, yet he came into Tuesday with a .271/.372/.413 line, 15 homers, 60 RBIs and 12 stolen bases, according to FanGraphs. Those numbers still look strong for a rookie, but the Tigers still had to see how he would handle the inevitable stretches when opposing pitchers start to test him over time.
One swing doesn’t erase an 11-game skid, and Detroit still needs to know whether this was the start of McGonigle turning the corner. The club also has a much bigger reason to stay invested in his growth: in April, the Tigers signed him to an eight-year, $150 million extension that begins in 2027 and runs through 2034, with escalators that could push the deal to $160 million.
Detroit made that kind of commitment because of McGonigle’s advanced approach, contact ability and all-around impact. A rough two weeks doesn’t change that. And with the Tigers fading in the playoff race, the development of McGonigle and the rest of the young core has become one of the biggest things left to watch.
Monday gave them the answer they wanted. Now the Tigers need to see if McGonigle can keep it going.
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