The Detroit Tigers continue to rely on 21-year-old rookie shortstop Kevin McGonigle as an extensive injury list forces the team to field a limited lineup during a critical losing streak, according to reports from Detroit News and other outlets on May 22, 2026.
Detroit entered Camden Yards 11 games under . 500 and enduring a six-game losing streak after being swept in four games by the Cleveland Guardians.
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McGonigle has played in 49 of 51 games, posting a 2.7 WAR that ranks tied for second best in the American League alongside Cody Bellinger and Shea Langeliers, trailing only Bobby Witt Jr.
“Yeah, not with how things have been going and how he’s been doing,” said Tigers manager AJ Hinch when discussing his inability to rest the rookie.
“He’s holding up fine.”
Hinch had initially planned to give McGonigle a game off against the Guardians due to their left-handed starting pitchers, but the team's ongoing performance issues prevented the proactive workload management.
“A lot of this workload management stuff is meant to be proactive,” said Hinch. “And we haven’t been able to be proactive with where we are at.”
The heavy utilization extends to other young players like Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson, Colt Keith, and Dillon Dingler, who are all playing daily due to roster constraints.
“This was a tough week,” said Hinch. “He’s moving fine.
He’s performing fine. He looks fine.
We haven’t had the opportunity to be proactive.
