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On Monday night, Kevin McGonigle was all smiles taking in the Home Run Derby, even though that's not really his game — and it almost certainly never will be.
McGonigle, the 21-year-old Tigers shortstop who is an All-Star as a rookie, is a throwback to old-school baseball, valuing contact and swinging at strikes and getting on base by any means necessary.
McGonigle entered the All-Star break with more walks (60) than strikeouts (56), and he has reached base 162 times, most by any rookie before the All-Star break since New York Yankees star Aaron Judge reached 164 times in 2017.
"The biggest thing that helped me growing up was the people I surrounded myself with," McGonigle said in an interview with MLB Network on Monday. "I never really had a hitting coach growing up. It was always just my dad and I. Growing up, my dad was like, 'Don't let anyone touch that swing,' so I've had the same swing growing up and kind of the same mind set of the game growing up, and I'm never gonna let that change. I think that's what got me here, and I think that's what's gonna help me succeed in my career."
It's that mindset that certainly has helped him become an All-Star so quickly in his career.
McGonigle was a first-round pick by the Tigers in 2023, and he's just 21, becoming the first Tiger to make an All-Star at 21 or younger since Mark "The Bird" Fidrych 50 years ago (also in Philadelphia, interestingly).
The only other Tiger to make an All-Star Game at 21 or younger was Mr. Tiger Al Kaline, in 1954 and 1955. McGonigle is the first Tigers rookie to be an All-Star since Matt Nokes in 1987, and the first Tigers rookie to be an All-Star in his first major-league season since Fidrych in 1976.
"It's gonna be like, you know, a bunch of faces that I grew up watching, a bunch of faces that are stars of the game," McGonigle told MLB Network, speaking of soaking in the All-Star experience. "The biggest thing I want to do is pick their brains and try to get better.
"It's just unbelievable I'm here in this stadium with this group of guys."
McGonigle was particularly interested in seeing Mike Trout, who like McGonigle is a Philadelphia-area native, and Bryce Harper, a star slugger for the team he grew up rooting for, the Philadelphia Phillies. McGonigle also was hoping to run into his idol growing up, retired Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, whose game he modeled his after.
McGonigle said he expects to have 35 family members and friends in attendance for Tuesday's All-Star Game, which is set for 8 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park. Fox will broadcast the game.
McGonigle, one of four Tigers All-Stars (Dillon Dingler, Riley Greene and Justin Verlander) was planning to stay in his childhood bedroom during All-Star week festivities.
"It means the world, man," said McGonigle, who entered the break hitting .283/.392/.420 with eight homers, 34 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. "I did not think my first game at The Bank would be an All-Star Game.
"Now I'm here. I just can't wait."
[email protected]
@tonypaul1984
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tigers rookie McGonigle an All-Star in his hometown: 'It's just unbelievable'
Continue reading...
McGonigle, the 21-year-old Tigers shortstop who is an All-Star as a rookie, is a throwback to old-school baseball, valuing contact and swinging at strikes and getting on base by any means necessary.
McGonigle entered the All-Star break with more walks (60) than strikeouts (56), and he has reached base 162 times, most by any rookie before the All-Star break since New York Yankees star Aaron Judge reached 164 times in 2017.
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"The biggest thing that helped me growing up was the people I surrounded myself with," McGonigle said in an interview with MLB Network on Monday. "I never really had a hitting coach growing up. It was always just my dad and I. Growing up, my dad was like, 'Don't let anyone touch that swing,' so I've had the same swing growing up and kind of the same mind set of the game growing up, and I'm never gonna let that change. I think that's what got me here, and I think that's what's gonna help me succeed in my career."
It's that mindset that certainly has helped him become an All-Star so quickly in his career.
McGonigle was a first-round pick by the Tigers in 2023, and he's just 21, becoming the first Tiger to make an All-Star at 21 or younger since Mark "The Bird" Fidrych 50 years ago (also in Philadelphia, interestingly).
The only other Tiger to make an All-Star Game at 21 or younger was Mr. Tiger Al Kaline, in 1954 and 1955. McGonigle is the first Tigers rookie to be an All-Star since Matt Nokes in 1987, and the first Tigers rookie to be an All-Star in his first major-league season since Fidrych in 1976.
"It's gonna be like, you know, a bunch of faces that I grew up watching, a bunch of faces that are stars of the game," McGonigle told MLB Network, speaking of soaking in the All-Star experience. "The biggest thing I want to do is pick their brains and try to get better.
"It's just unbelievable I'm here in this stadium with this group of guys."
McGonigle was particularly interested in seeing Mike Trout, who like McGonigle is a Philadelphia-area native, and Bryce Harper, a star slugger for the team he grew up rooting for, the Philadelphia Phillies. McGonigle also was hoping to run into his idol growing up, retired Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, whose game he modeled his after.
McGonigle said he expects to have 35 family members and friends in attendance for Tuesday's All-Star Game, which is set for 8 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park. Fox will broadcast the game.
McGonigle, one of four Tigers All-Stars (Dillon Dingler, Riley Greene and Justin Verlander) was planning to stay in his childhood bedroom during All-Star week festivities.
"It means the world, man," said McGonigle, who entered the break hitting .283/.392/.420 with eight homers, 34 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. "I did not think my first game at The Bank would be an All-Star Game.
"Now I'm here. I just can't wait."
[email protected]
@tonypaul1984
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tigers rookie McGonigle an All-Star in his hometown: 'It's just unbelievable'
Continue reading...
