12:43pm: The Tigers announced that infielder/outfielder Wenceel Pérez, infielder Jace Jung and outfielder Trei Cruz have all been optioned to Triple-A Toledo. Center fielder Parker Meadows has made the Opening Day roster.
The 26-year-old Pérez is the most notable among the cuts. He was a key contributor in Detroit last year, giving Hinch a defensively versatile switch-hitter who could be deployed at various spots in both the infield and outfield. Pérez played exclusively in the outfield last year but has more than 1800 minor league innings at both middle infield slots and another 259 at third base. In 383 MLB plate appearances, he slashed .244/.308/.430 (103 wRC+) with 13 homers, 17 doubles, four triples and eight steals. Pérez will surely get a long major league look this year as injuries and/or poor performance elsewhere on the roster dictate, but for now he’ll open in Toledo.
Pérez didn’t help his case with a dismal .158/.238/.158 showing in 46 spring plate appearances. With better production, he might’ve edged out Meadows, who struggled at the plate in 2025 and batted only .222/.314/.289 in 52 spring plate appearances. Meadows, however, is a plus defender in center field. Given that he nominally outperformed Pérez with the bat and has a clear defensive edge with the glove, he’ll get the nod for an Opening Day roster spot and look to get back to his 2024 form at the plate (.244/.310/.433).
11:28am: It’s official. The Tigers announced Tuesday that infielder Kevin McGonigle, the consensus No. 2 prospect in baseball, will make their Opening Day roster. The 21-year-old will likely begin the season as Detroit’s shortstop after a spring in which he batted .250/.411/.477 with two homers, two doubles, a triple, two steals and more walks (11) than strikeouts (9) in 56 plate appearances. McGonigle is not on the Tigers’ 40-man roster, so they’ll need to make a corresponding transaction when they formally select his contract.
Selected with the No. 37 overall pick in the 2023 draft, McGonigle has raced through the minors relative to most high school picks. He’s raked at every level from Rookie ball up through Double-A last season despite being one of the youngest players in the league at the most recent stops on his minor league journey. McGonigle totaled 397 plate appearances across three levels in 2025 and slashed .305/.408/.583 with 19 homers, 31 doubles, two triples, 10 steals and more walks than strikeouts.
Scouts rave about McGonigle’s preternatural feel for hitting. He’s never punched out in more than 12.6% of his plate appearances at any minor league stop, and his overall strikeout rate of 10.6% in 908 professional plate appearances speaks volumes about the advanced nature of that hit tool — especially considering his age. McGonigle only turned 21 in mid-August. He’ll play the vast majority of his rookie season before even celebrating his 22nd birthday.
Some scouting reports express skepticism about his ability to stick at shortstop, though he’s continued to get reps there this spring and could yet develop into a quality option at the position. Even if a move to another position — second base, third base, outfield — becomes a necessity somewhere down the line, McGonigle’s bat is so highly regarded that it doesn’t matter. He’s viewed as a fixture in the top half of the Detroit lineup for the foreseeable future, regardless of his ultimate defensive home.
Since he’s breaking camp with the club and is a consensus top prospect, McGonigle could net the Tigers some future draft considerations via the league’s Prospect Promotion Incentive (PPI) program. A Rookie of the Year win in 2026 or a top-three finish in MVP voting in any of McGonigle’s pre-arbitration seasons would net the Tigers an extra draft selection after the first round the following season. (Prospects can only net their team one bonus pick overall.)
Assuming McGonigle sticks on Detroit’s roster all season, he’ll accrue a full year of service and be under club control through the 2031 season. He’d be eligible for arbitration following the 2028 season as things stand. Of course, those timetables are subject to change.
McGonigle will have a full slate of three minor league option years upon being formally added to the roster, and Detroit could always look to extend its window of club control with a long-term deal, be it early in his MLB tenure or during subsequent springs, when McGonigle is still years from the open market. It’ll take a hefty offer to do so in all likelihood, as McGonigle is currently slated to reach free agency ahead of his age-27 season, which would put him in line for a mammoth contract if he reaches his ceiling (or anything close to it).
In addition to his work at shortstop, McGonigle also saw time at third base this spring. Detroit doesn’t have set starters at either position, so he could bounce between both spots. McGonigle, Javier Baez and Zach McKinstry are all capable of playing short and third base. Colt Keith can play third base, second base or first base. Matt Vierling is capable of playing third base or the outfield. Manager A.J. Hinch will have no shortage of matchup-based options with that contingent on hand, but regardless of which defensive spot he occupies on a given day, McGonigle should be expected to be in Hinch’s lineup.
Here we go!! Most anticipated opening day since the Series trips. Go get em Tigers!
The McGonigle Era starts NOW!
Well if they let him make the roster of course he’ll put himself on it, amiright?
Dad jokes never fail.
ROY if he stays up all year.
Book it
Surely he won’t because he’ll need sleep.
.
OK, some Dad jokes fail.
Welcome to the majors Kevin!
My names Davis.
My names McGonickle.
Well, bye.
You have issues.
Never seen the movie? It’s a classic.
His name was Robert Paulson.
Whos gets the stanky boot to AAA? Perez or Meadows?
Most likely Meadows
Nah most likely Perez. Meadows defense in Center far outweighs any of the attributes Perez can offer. Both stunk in spring.
We got our answer…
Meadows also hit .290/.389/.387/.776 in March after going 1 for 14 in April as he changed his approach. If he continues where he left off he’ll be really fun to watch.
Meadows had two hard-hit balls yesterday against Colorado, incl a triple down the RF line. Perez hasn’t hit the ball hard yet this spring.
Of course, now that you wrote that, Perez just hit two home runs. I do expect him back in Detroit in the near future.
LOL @ 2 HRs — of course! Maybe it pissed him off. I expect him back in DET too. Neither one of them set the world on fire this spring. (until now)
Wonderful news. Best wishes to a long and lustrous career!
I would have been very disappointed if this didn’t happen. Scott Harris always said the plan was to improve the offense from within. Well this is how you do that. Good to see promises kept, without service time manipulation.
I still think the trade deadline roster will include Max Clark and an outside right-handed power bat, but let’s see how things go here the first few months
Max Clark offered zero sign he would be ready this year during the spring, getting sent to minor league camp weeks before other prospects did. Wishful thinking he will be a part of a 2026 summer.
Clark will be a September callup…especially if Meadows keeps sucking!
Clark needs some grow-up time in AAA. He played like Harry Highschool in camp.
Excellent news! Congratulations!
Yet another layer of excitement on what is already an exciting season in Detroit.
Saw him for the first time yesterday, and yeah, that kid is gonna be a star. I haven’t been so sure about a hitting prospect in years.
Great news for Boston accent lovers around the world
The only people who love that accent are the people who have it 😉
Oh common some nice lady walks into a bar says 2 simple words “wicked AAWWWsome” and your telling me your not gonna be intrigued?
Why are we assuming he is playing SS? He’s been at 3B every day for a while in ST
He’s actually played 49 innings at each position. Since Colt is starting at 3B, McGonigle will be the opening day SS. Javy will play SS vs LHP and Hinch will mix and match like he always does.
The most important thing for McGonigle right now is he plays everyday, whether it’s on the big league team or AAA.
I don’t think they would have put him on the opening day roster if he wasn’t going to be given the chance to prove himself against LHP. If you’re saying that Javy will play SS against LHP, I think it would only be if McGonigle is playing 3B that game.
Congrats Kevin McGonigle!
Max Clarke is next around the All Star break!
Glad that they did not trade either of those guys @ the trade deadline the last few years.
If the Tigers great starting pitching rotation performs as advertised, then the Tigers much needed extra clutch hitting gives their ballclub a much better change of making the playoffs and advancing to the ALCS and WS.
And, this may be only the beginning.
They have talent stacked up in the minors that may make the Tigers a force in the AL Central for the forseeable future.
Rainier looks to be a pretty good SS. A name no one talks about is John Peck who is quietly improving every year in our system and has now reached AA. Peck could be the potential 2b.
Rainer is probably the SS of the Tigers’ future with McGonigle eventually sticking at 3rd or another position, if I had to guess. Very excited about the Tigers hitting prospects! I know it’s super early but Yost looks like a stud in the making as well.
I really like Peck. He looks like a keeper no matter where he plays.
Let’s get him signed to an extension right after opening day now
It will take a helluva lot more than Colt Keith signed for.
I’m okay with that. I would of been okay with them signing him before the season and missing out on the potential picks from rookie of the year or getting top 3 in mvp votes over the next three years
My point is that Detroit isn’t likely going to offer him the sort of money it would take to get an extension signed.
youtube.com/watch?v=Pjqc1hqbRmA
McGarnagle ftw!
I havent been this excited for a tigers prospect since justin verlander. Kevin might not win the batting title as a rookie, but detroits lineup just got way more interesting
That was fast ! Great one, GO TIGERS !
The Detroit Tigers need to make Roy McGonigle a Tiger for life! Amazing offensive stats! The ev should eventually get him to 30+ hr power once he learns the league.
If he posts decent numbers into June I would lock him up on his first contract quickly.
Roy?
You know probably want to capitalize the ROY. 😉
Lol.
There goes Roy McGonigle, the best there ever was.
Tigers once again Division Favs.
Great choices, Meadows has speed that can’t be taught along with his great size. He looked great last night, and hes healthy. Perez looked great in 24 and the farm will aid in the return to that look. Cruz, and Jung both looked good this spring, and the Tigers are going to have guys that are playable if needed this season.
We’re all excited in Detroit that’s for sure. McGonigle will bring a lot of new eyes to the team this year, and that’s always a good thing. GO TIGERS !
Just came back to note that Perez had shown no power this spring, until he was told he hadn’t made the team. Two HRs in yesterday’s game. Wonder if he thought his spot was secure? He will be back. He may not be Meadows on D, but he is no slouch either.
Only reason I thought he may not make the Opening Day roster was the full 40 man. Maybe someone gets moved to the 60day (Sawyer Gipson-Long or Bailey Horn)? If they had to DFA I’d think it’d be a pitcher before a position player and even then no one really jumps out as a candidate.
Drew Sommers?
Thought it would be Meadows sent out, but Perez is understandable. What happened with Slater? Did he opt out, get sent down, or get injured?
Opt-out a couple days ago.
… and today signed a MLB contract with Miami.
Thanks for the update.
Isn’t this Parker Meadows business getting just a little too ridiculous? He can’t hit a lick. So Perez didn’t have much of a spring, but he’s obviously a much better hitter than Meadows. And Jace Jung was a first-round pick and it’s just not getting much of a chance. Meadows is an absolute waste of a roster spot.
Meadows is the best CF on the roster and he out-hit Perez this spring, esp. the last week or so.
Jace Jung shouldn’t have been a 1st round pick because he can’t hit MLB pitching. Just because he was drafted in the first round (by Avila) doesn’t make him a first-round talent. He’s much more of a wasted roster spot than Meadows, who can be an extremely valuable member of the team if he can regain his ’24 form — as he’s looked more like the last couple of days.
Meadows had a period where he hit well in 2024 and in limited innings last year he sucked. Both years were injury riddled. Let’s hope he stays healthy so we can see how he plays out. He did show progress as a hitter in the minors and I think has a much higher ceiling than Perez. Perez is… there.
Wencel Perez is a much better major league hitter
and also a great defender in RF, CF, LF
Meadows is a good glove, very lite hitting CF.
Those players are a dime a dozen.
mistake!
Perez is an average MLB OF. Meadows is an elite defensive CF.
Perez & Meadows are a virtual wash offensively.
162 game avg: Perez 17 HR, 61 RBI; Meadows 15 HR, 52 RBI
Perez has a lifetime 1.5 War and .709 OPS in 808 MLB PA’s
Meadows has a lifetime 3.4 War and .694 OPS in 586 MLB PA’s
Meadows has double the War in 27 percent fewer PAs.
Meadows is the more valuable player.
This is absolutely the correct decision.
They need him in the lineup everyday.
Here’s the next thing they need to do. Stop batting Meadows and/or Carpenter in the lead off spot. I don’t understand what Hinch is thinking with that. Stop overthinking things. In fact, I’d love to get rid of Meadows in a heartbeat if they could trick another team into getting a nice lefty out of the pen to team with Holton.
Hit Torres lead off followed by Dingler initially. Or if McGonigle takes off like I think he will, hit him second.
I agree alproof.
He plays a good CF. But is that enough to continue to give him a roster spot and even worse bat him lead off? No way. Nothing against the kid, but you can’t settle for that. He has great straight line speed, but he’s not a base stealer at all. And he never gets on base.
Always look to try and improve your lineup with simple additions by subtractions. One for one type of moves. Would love to see another good lefty out of the pen not named Tyler Alexander or Andrew Chaffin to team with Holton.
Never settle. Always push forward to improve the lineup. Don’t wait until the trade deadline.
Hurter is a good lefthander and DeJesus has looked great in Spring training and both seem to be trending towards making the roster. More multi-inning types though.
Do you not follow the Tigers? No one on the Tigers is a base stealer, because that’s not the Teams MO under Hinch. What they do instead is take the extra base, and they are one of the best teams at it.
Congrats to McGonigle. He earned the promotion. He looks ready.
The others, incl. Clark, did not earn the promotion and don’t look ready.
Parker’s triple down the line & single up the middle last night were encouraging.
I don’t know about this. There is a huge difference going from just 46 games at AA to hitting MLB pitching. This could backfire.
Wenceel Pérez Optioned?!
Perez is very valuable for the Tigers, can hit, plays RF,LF CF etc.
Parker Meadows has been struggling to stay over the Mendoza line for a number of years.
This is a real “head scratcher”!
Meadows improved as the spring went on after a slow start and is elite on defense. Perez didn’t show much of anything this spring and wasn’t going to beat out any of the current OF’ers. He might have had an argument to compete with Jones except for the fact that Jones is a righty bat which they need. Perez will be back up at some point and contribute. He’s a good little player.
Perez is a switch hitter, so can bat RH.
It’s simply too tempting to imagine how much improved the hitting may be if McGonigle is able to play a passable SS. However, the pitching needs a lot of strikeouts or easy flyballs with a Torkelson/Torres/McGonigle/Keith-IF…
Gruß,
BSHH
Pretty nice first game of career for The Kid.