4 roster replacements as Gleyber Torres goes back onto Tigers' IL

Almost just as soon as Gleyber Torres made his return, he headed back to the Injured List after suffering what the Tigers dubbed a 'general side' issue against the Houston Astros earlier this week and turned out to be the oblique strain that plagued him for the better part of a month.

"I don’t know if it’s related to what he previously had," AJ Hinch said after the game on Monday, "but I saw his reaction in the box. So when I went out, I just asked him what was going on, and he said it was uncomfortable. So that was an easy decision [to take him out]."

Torres missed the better part of a month with a left oblique strain that forced him on the IL in early May. When healthy, Torres is a regular force atop a Tigers lineup that has struggled without him. He'll now miss at least 10 days. So, where could Detroit turn in his absence?

Gleyber Torres replacements the Tigers could call on

Kevin McGonigle

Let's call a spade a spade. McGonigle will more than likely play shortstop until he can't any longer. While most prospect pundits project McGonigle as a shortstop and third baseman, he also played nearly 30 games at second base in the minor leagues. He's never played the position in the majors, which makes this solution incredibly unlikely. However, there's little doubt he has the range if necessary. Odds are, though, the Tigers won't want to mess with a good thing. McGonigle has an OPS over .800 and a 3.8 bWAR playing shortstop. That's where Detroit should keep him until further notice.

Max Anderson

If the Tigers need more second base depth thanks to a Torres IL stint, Max Anderson could be a call-up option. Anderson has spent equal time at second and third base with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. He projects as a better third baseman in the bigs, which is why he played the hot corner exclusively in the Arizona Fall League. Anderson has a .756 OPS in 33 games at Toledo. He's not hitting the cover off the ball, but a short MLB stint could be in his future depending how long Torres is out for.

Hao-Yu Lee

Lee received his cup of coffee in the bigs earlier this season, and is third on the Tigers depth chart at second base behind Torres and Zach McKinstry. Expect Lee to get some playing time while Torres is out, especially against left-handed pitching. Lee was recalled from the minor leagues just a few days ago and had an RBI single against the Astros this week. His bat can be hot and cold, but he has enough range to provide the Tigers another option at second base when McKinstry needs an off day.

Zach McKinstry

McKinstry was an AL All-Star and won a Silver Slugger in 2025. Since then, he's had a steep drop-off few could've expected. The Tigers super-utility man has just a .502 OPS in 2026 in 49 games. In many ways, McKinstry's struggles are a microcosm of what's happened to the Tigers lineup. Whether it's poor at-bats or an inability to drive in runners in scoring position, McKinstry's frustrations are not lost on Tigers fans. The fact that he's not a simple plug-and-play solution for Torres' injury alone is even worse. It's about time he started playing up to his reputation.

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