McGonigle, Dingler, Greene to rep Tigers in All-Star Game

ARLINGTON -- A year ago, Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle was still playing in the High-A Midwest League in West Michigan. Ten days from now, he’ll be playing in the MLB All-Star Game in his hometown.

“It's really cool that I’m living out my dream right now,” McGonigle, a native of Drexel Hill, Pa., a Philadelphia suburb.

McGonigle was one of three Tigers named to the Midsummer Classic when rosters were announced on Saturday night, joining catcher Dillon Dingler and outfielder Riley Greene.

“To even just go and watch an All-Star Game in Philadelphia as a fan, always, growing up, was a dream of mine,” McGonigle said. “Now that I can go and play in Philadelphia as an All-Star, it's really special. It's hard to put into words. It's just super exciting, and I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of family and friends as well.”

The first half of McGonigle’s first big league season has been everything the Tigers could’ve hoped for when they put him on the fast track to the Majors last year. He entered Saturday’s game against the Rangers slashing .284/.394/.425. His bWAR of 4.6 was the third best in MLB among position players. McGonigle had reached base safely two or more times in 51 games this season, the second most by a rookie before the All-Star break (Aaron Judge, 2017).

At only 21 years old, McGonigle is the second-youngest player in Tigers history to reach the All-Star Game behind Al Kaline, who was only 20 years and 205 days old when he played for the American League in 1955. McGonigle will be just four days younger than Mark Fidrych was when he started the 1976 All-Star Game as a rookie for Detroit.

“This kid’s built different,” manager A.J. Hinch said of McGonigle. “He can handle a lot thrown at him, and this is going to be another thing that's thrown at him that's unique. [He] gets to go home as a 21-year-old and celebrate [his] first All-Star Game on the field with a lot of guys that he looked up to and that he looked to be like one day, and now he's peers with them.”

Missing the cut this year were Tigers starting pitchers Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize, who both played for the AL squad in 2025 but have dealt with injuries this season.

Though they don’t have as many All-Stars as in some past years, Hinch said he’s grateful that this year’s trio were honored.

“I'm really proud that the three players that we have got recognized -- two first-timers, and then, obviously, Riley is the third time in a row, which hasn't been done a ton in our organization,” Hinch said. “They've earned it, and this is a day to celebrate them. It was fun to deliver the news in front of the team ... we had a good moment to be able to share with them.”

Kevin McGonigle, SS
Previous All-Star appearances: First
Something to know: Fifth player in MLB history, and first in 90 years (Joe DiMaggio and Roy Weatherly did it in 1936) with 30+ hits, 10+ doubles and less than 15 strikeouts in his first 25 career games at age 21 or younger.

Dillon Dingler, C
Previous All-Star appearances: First
Something to know: Dingler is the first Tigers catcher to be named an All-Star since Alex Avila, who started behind the plate in the 2011 Midsummer Classic. He’s also the first MLB primary catcher since Ivan Rodriguez in 2000 to post at least 19 home runs, 18 doubles, two triples and 59 RBIs in his first 80 games of a season.

“It means a lot for the career ... hard work pays off,” Dingler said. “It's only a meter of your first half, so obviously you try to keep that going throughout the year, but it's a nice achievement. It's great for the career. ... You look up and see, growing up, seeing All-Stars. It's kind of surreal now to know that I'll be in that group.”

Riley Greene, OF
Previous All-Star appearances: 2024, ‘25
Something to know: Third player in Tigers history to post 85 home runs, 300 RBIs and 300 runs scored before turning 26, joining Hall of Famer Kaline and Travis Fryman.