DETROIT -- One day after Tigers manager A.J. Hinch set the perfect scene to close out Justin Verlander’s incredible career, he did the same for a player whose career is just getting rolling.
Kevin McGonigle took his defensive position at third base for the eighth inning when manager A.J. Hinch came out of the dugout to make a substitution.
McGonigle didn’t realize who the move was for.
“Me?” he asked, pointing to himself.
After playing in 156 of Detroit’s 162 games, including 146 complete games, McGonigle doesn’t expect the hook at any point, much less in the field.
“I was more confused. I didn’t expect that,” McGonigle said after the Tigers’ 4-2 loss to the Pirates wrapped up their season. “It was really cool.”
This one had a purpose. As Ben Malgeri headed out to right field and Zach McKinstry crossed Comerica Park’s vast outfield grass to move to third, McGonigle made his way toward the dugout. The crowd of 30,165, including a few Pirates fans, rose to its feet for a standing ovation.
“I think we found the one thing we get to talk to Kevin about improving over the winter, which is the curtain call,” Hinch said.
This was actually Hinch’s Plan B for giving McGonigle an exit. McGonigle spoiled Plan A by homering in the seventh inning.
“I thought he was going to single or walk or double or something,” said Hinch, who had a pinch-runner ready. “And then he goes ahead and hits a homer. …
“Respecting what that accomplishment is matters to me. So I wanted to at least get him a chance to get an ovation in front of our home fans. I probably should’ve gone to the mound and actually told him what I was doing, but it gave the boys on the bench some ammo to get under Kevin’s skin.”
McGonigle’s 18th home run of the season might have spoiled the plan, but it rounded out an incredible stat line that reads not only like an American League Rookie of the Year favorite, but one of the best rookie performances in years:
- McGonigle is the first rookie to post at least 97 runs, 28 doubles, 18 home runs, 72 RBIs and 95 walks since Ted Williams in 1939.
- He’s the fourth rookie to post at least 95 walks and 95 runs scored since the Rookie of the Year Award was established in 1947, joining Aaron Judge (2017), Hall of Famer Joe Morgan (1965) and Jim Gilliam (1953).
- With 168 hits, 95 walks and three hit-by-pitches, McGonigle is the fourth player since 1990 to reach base safely at least 266 times in his rookie season, joining Judge (286 in 2017), Ichiro Suzuki (280 in 2001) and Albert Pujols (272 in 2001). All three won the Rookie of the Year Award in their respective leagues.
- McGonigle’s 95 walks are tied for the fifth most by a rookie since 1947 and are the most since Judge’s 127 walks in 2017. They’re the sixth most by any player in his age-21 season or younger, behind Rickey Henderson (117 in 1980), Mike Trout (110 in 2013), Juan Soto (108 in 2019), Eddie Mathews (99 in 1953) and Morgan (97 in 1965).
- Sunday was McGonigle’s 86th game reaching base safely two or more times, most by a Tigers rookie since Harvey Kuenn (86 in 1953) and third most by an MLB rookie since 1990 behind Judge (94) and Pujols (92).
McGonigle entered Sunday leading AL position players in bWAR: not just for rookies, but all AL position players. His 6.9 bWAR as of Sunday would be the eighth highest by a rookie since the Rookie of the Year Award debuted in 1947. The previous seven all won Rookie of the Year, four of them unanimously.
“Incredible season,” Hinch said, “and a fitting way for him to cap it with some good at-bats today and the opposite-field homer.”
McGonigle’s season has arguably been the brightest spot in a 76-86 season that ended the Tigers’ run of back-to-back postseason berths. It’s also an example of how a trying season closes with hope for next year, given the Tigers’ young talent.
“This year is a dream come true,” McGonigle said. “I worked so hard to get myself in a position to play at the highest level of baseball. I did it for the first year, and it was an unbelievable year. I know it didn't go as planned, but these guys in the clubhouse were a big help to me this whole year. Whenever I had questions, they were there for me. They were all rookies before. This clubhouse, this team, this organization, it's truly special to be a part of it.”