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The Detroit Tigers have four prospects on Baseball America's preseason top 100 rankings, released Wednesday, Jan. 21.
The four prospects on the list as the 2026 season approaches: shortstop Kevin McGonigle (No. 2), outfielder Max Clark (No. 6), shortstop Bryce Rainer (No. 29) and catcher/first baseman Josue Briceño (No. 76).
Detroit president of baseball operations Scott Harris, hired in September 2022, is responsible for acquiring three of the four Tigers prospects – everyone except Briceño. Harris also acquired catcher Thayron Liranzo, who ranked No. 69 before the 2025 season but is no longer in the top 100 due to his performance in Double-A Erie.
The only player who ranked higher than McGonigle on BA's list: Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. He posted a .941 OPS across three levels in 2025, making it as far as Double-A. McGonigle, meanwhile, had a .991 OPS across three levels, including 46 games in Double-A. He then put up a 1.210 OPS in 19 Arizona Fall League games.
NAMES TO KNOW: Free agents Tigers could target ahead of spring training as leverage shifts
Among the group of Tigers prospects, McGonigle is classified as a mild-risk prospect, Clark is considered an average-risk prospect, and Rainer and Briceño are described as high-risk prospects.
All four are left-handed hitters.
Here's what changed for the Tigers on Baseball America's list between the 2025 preseason and 2026 preseason: McGonigle climbed 21 spots, from No. 23 to No. 2; Clark climbed 16 spots, from No. 22 to No. 6; Rainer stayed put at No. 29; and Briceño moved from unranked to No. 76.
The Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Guardians and New York Mets led the way with six prospects apiece in the top 100 this year, followed by the Baltimore Orioles, Miami Marlins and Milwaukee Brewers with five each.
As for the Tigers? They are one of 10 teams with four prospects, but they're the only team with two prospects in the top 10. Additionally, the Tigers didn't place any prospects on Baseball America's list of 20 prospects who just missed the top 100.
INTERNATIONAL SIGNING PERIOD: What Tigers like about international signees they spent millions on
The top 10 prospects from Baseball America, in order:
1. SS Konnor Griffin, Pirates.
2. SS Kevin McGonigle, Tigers.
3. INF JJ Wetherholt, St. Louis Cardinals.
4. SS Jesús Made, Brewers.
5. OF Walker Jenkins, Twins.
6. OF Max Clark, Tigers.
7. SS Colt Emerson, Seattle Mariners.
8. RHP Nolan McLean, Mets.
9. C Samuel Basallo, Orioles.
10. RHP Trey Yesavage, Toronto Blue Jays.
[ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]
McGonigle, the No. 37 overall pick in 2023, advanced from High-A West Michigan to Double-A Erie in the 2025 season, hitting .305 with 19 home runs, 59 walks and 46 strikeouts across 80 games. He played almost exclusively at shortstop.
At the Double-A level, the 21-year-old hit .254 with 12 home runs, 33 walks (16% walk rate) and 26 strikeouts (12.6% strikeout rate) in 46 games. He also appeared in 19 games in the Arizona Fall League, where he spent more time at third base than shortstop and hit .362 en route to winning AFL MVP honors.
McGonigle has suffered three injuries over the past two seasons: a left hamstring strain in March 2024, a right hamate fracture in August 2024 and a right ankle sprain in April 2025.
Baseball America wrote: "McGonigle earned the first 80-grade hit tool (on the 20-80 baseball scouting scale) in the Prospect Handbook since Vladimir Guerrero Jr. thanks to a cut that blends violence and accuracy. He can damage anything a pitcher can throw and should be a part of Detroit's lineup and infield in short order."
Clark, the No. 3 overall pick in 2023, advanced from High-A West Michigan to Double-A Erie during the 2025 season, hitting .271 with 14 home runs, 94 walks and 90 strikeouts across 111 games, stealing 19 bases in 21 attempts and playing exclusively in center field.
The 21-year-old hit .251 with seven home runs, 29 walks (14.3% walk rate) and 34 strikeouts (16.7% strikeout rate) in 43 games at the Double-A level.
Although McGonigle projects to make his MLB debut at some point in 2026 – possibly not until mid-to-late August to preserve his rookie status into 2027 – Clark might not arrive until 2027.
Baseball America wrote: "Clark and Kevin McGonigle give Detroit one of the highest-ceiling pairs in the minor leagues. The outfielder offers a blend of tools and skills and has the type of profile that often fits up top in a championship lineup."
Rainer, the No. 11 overall pick in 2024, spent the entire 2025 season in Low-A Lakeland, hitting .288 with five home runs, 20 walks (13.4% walk rate) and 33 strikeouts (22.1% strikeout rate) across 35 games. He played exclusively at shortstop.
In June, the 20-year-old dislocated his right shoulder while diving back into first base on a pickoff attempt and underwent season-ending surgery. He is expected to be healthy for minor-league spring training.
Baseball America wrote: "Rainer rivaled Konnor Griffin for the title of best prep shortstop in the 2024 draft class. While Griffin blossomed in 2025, don't forget about Rainer. He impressed before a season-ending shoulder injury."
Briceño advanced from High-A West Michigan to Double-A Erie in the 2025 season, hitting .266 with 20 home runs, 66 walks and 87 strikeouts across 100 games. The 21-year-old made 46 starts at catcher, 32 at first base and 22 at designated hitter.
The Tigers signed Briceño out of Venezuela as part of their 2022 international class.
In Double-A, Briceño hit .232 with five home runs, 25 walks (12.6% walk rate) and 47 strikeouts (23.7% strikeout rate). His offensive production dipped after the promotion
Baseball America wrote: "Briceño is a physical slugger with good balance of plus-plus raw power and advanced contact skills. He still faces questions about his ability to stick behind the plate, which puts more pressure on his bat to carry him, but he could blossom into a 30-homer hitter if his offensive profile holds up against higher-level pitching."
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon during the season and Tuesday afternoon during the offseason on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Kevin McGonigle leads Detroit Tigers in Baseball America top 100
Continue reading...
The four prospects on the list as the 2026 season approaches: shortstop Kevin McGonigle (No. 2), outfielder Max Clark (No. 6), shortstop Bryce Rainer (No. 29) and catcher/first baseman Josue Briceño (No. 76).
Detroit president of baseball operations Scott Harris, hired in September 2022, is responsible for acquiring three of the four Tigers prospects – everyone except Briceño. Harris also acquired catcher Thayron Liranzo, who ranked No. 69 before the 2025 season but is no longer in the top 100 due to his performance in Double-A Erie.
The only player who ranked higher than McGonigle on BA's list: Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. He posted a .941 OPS across three levels in 2025, making it as far as Double-A. McGonigle, meanwhile, had a .991 OPS across three levels, including 46 games in Double-A. He then put up a 1.210 OPS in 19 Arizona Fall League games.
NAMES TO KNOW: Free agents Tigers could target ahead of spring training as leverage shifts
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Among the group of Tigers prospects, McGonigle is classified as a mild-risk prospect, Clark is considered an average-risk prospect, and Rainer and Briceño are described as high-risk prospects.
All four are left-handed hitters.
Here's what changed for the Tigers on Baseball America's list between the 2025 preseason and 2026 preseason: McGonigle climbed 21 spots, from No. 23 to No. 2; Clark climbed 16 spots, from No. 22 to No. 6; Rainer stayed put at No. 29; and Briceño moved from unranked to No. 76.
The Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Guardians and New York Mets led the way with six prospects apiece in the top 100 this year, followed by the Baltimore Orioles, Miami Marlins and Milwaukee Brewers with five each.
As for the Tigers? They are one of 10 teams with four prospects, but they're the only team with two prospects in the top 10. Additionally, the Tigers didn't place any prospects on Baseball America's list of 20 prospects who just missed the top 100.
INTERNATIONAL SIGNING PERIOD: What Tigers like about international signees they spent millions on
Baseball America's top 10 prospects
The top 10 prospects from Baseball America, in order:
1. SS Konnor Griffin, Pirates.
2. SS Kevin McGonigle, Tigers.
3. INF JJ Wetherholt, St. Louis Cardinals.
4. SS Jesús Made, Brewers.
5. OF Walker Jenkins, Twins.
6. OF Max Clark, Tigers.
7. SS Colt Emerson, Seattle Mariners.
8. RHP Nolan McLean, Mets.
9. C Samuel Basallo, Orioles.
10. RHP Trey Yesavage, Toronto Blue Jays.
[ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]
Kevin McGonigle
McGonigle, the No. 37 overall pick in 2023, advanced from High-A West Michigan to Double-A Erie in the 2025 season, hitting .305 with 19 home runs, 59 walks and 46 strikeouts across 80 games. He played almost exclusively at shortstop.
At the Double-A level, the 21-year-old hit .254 with 12 home runs, 33 walks (16% walk rate) and 26 strikeouts (12.6% strikeout rate) in 46 games. He also appeared in 19 games in the Arizona Fall League, where he spent more time at third base than shortstop and hit .362 en route to winning AFL MVP honors.
McGonigle has suffered three injuries over the past two seasons: a left hamstring strain in March 2024, a right hamate fracture in August 2024 and a right ankle sprain in April 2025.
Baseball America wrote: "McGonigle earned the first 80-grade hit tool (on the 20-80 baseball scouting scale) in the Prospect Handbook since Vladimir Guerrero Jr. thanks to a cut that blends violence and accuracy. He can damage anything a pitcher can throw and should be a part of Detroit's lineup and infield in short order."
Max Clark
Clark, the No. 3 overall pick in 2023, advanced from High-A West Michigan to Double-A Erie during the 2025 season, hitting .271 with 14 home runs, 94 walks and 90 strikeouts across 111 games, stealing 19 bases in 21 attempts and playing exclusively in center field.
The 21-year-old hit .251 with seven home runs, 29 walks (14.3% walk rate) and 34 strikeouts (16.7% strikeout rate) in 43 games at the Double-A level.
Although McGonigle projects to make his MLB debut at some point in 2026 – possibly not until mid-to-late August to preserve his rookie status into 2027 – Clark might not arrive until 2027.
Baseball America wrote: "Clark and Kevin McGonigle give Detroit one of the highest-ceiling pairs in the minor leagues. The outfielder offers a blend of tools and skills and has the type of profile that often fits up top in a championship lineup."
Bryce Rainer
Rainer, the No. 11 overall pick in 2024, spent the entire 2025 season in Low-A Lakeland, hitting .288 with five home runs, 20 walks (13.4% walk rate) and 33 strikeouts (22.1% strikeout rate) across 35 games. He played exclusively at shortstop.
In June, the 20-year-old dislocated his right shoulder while diving back into first base on a pickoff attempt and underwent season-ending surgery. He is expected to be healthy for minor-league spring training.
Baseball America wrote: "Rainer rivaled Konnor Griffin for the title of best prep shortstop in the 2024 draft class. While Griffin blossomed in 2025, don't forget about Rainer. He impressed before a season-ending shoulder injury."
Josue Briceño
Briceño advanced from High-A West Michigan to Double-A Erie in the 2025 season, hitting .266 with 20 home runs, 66 walks and 87 strikeouts across 100 games. The 21-year-old made 46 starts at catcher, 32 at first base and 22 at designated hitter.
The Tigers signed Briceño out of Venezuela as part of their 2022 international class.
In Double-A, Briceño hit .232 with five home runs, 25 walks (12.6% walk rate) and 47 strikeouts (23.7% strikeout rate). His offensive production dipped after the promotion
Baseball America wrote: "Briceño is a physical slugger with good balance of plus-plus raw power and advanced contact skills. He still faces questions about his ability to stick behind the plate, which puts more pressure on his bat to carry him, but he could blossom into a 30-homer hitter if his offensive profile holds up against higher-level pitching."
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon during the season and Tuesday afternoon during the offseason on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Kevin McGonigle leads Detroit Tigers in Baseball America top 100
Continue reading...
