"While the Tigers didn't add anyone who explicitly blocks McGonigle at shortstop this past winter (despite a run at signing Ha-Seong Kim before he re-signed in Atlanta), they haven't exactly made the 21-year-old's path to the big league shortstop job an easy one. By bringing Gleyber Torres back into the fold on the qualifying offer, they added an everyday player back to their infield who would push other potential second base options like and Zach McKinstry elsewhere on the diamond."
"Both were All-Stars for the Tigers last year, with McKinstry in particular putting forward a strong season where he posted a 114 wRC+ in 144 games with 3.1 fWAR. Baez saw his numbers fall off in the second half but still served as a strong option against lefties with a .318/.336/.434 slash line in 134 trips to the plate against them."
Spring training provides opportunities for top prospects across MLB to compete for roster spots, with many teams clearing paths for their young talent. The Tigers' top prospect Kevin McGonigle, however, faces established competition at shortstop. While the team didn't add a direct blocker at the position, they retained Gleyber Torres on a qualifying offer and maintain a shortstop platoon of Zach McKinstry and Javier Baez. Both players were All-Stars last season, though they played other positions primarily. McKinstry posted strong numbers with a 114 wRC+ and 3.1 fWAR, while Baez excelled against left-handed pitching. The versatility of these established players creates a complex situation for McGonigle's path to the majors.
#mlb-prospects #spring-training-competition #detroit-tigers-roster #kevin-mcgonigle #shortstop-position-battle
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