One non-Kevin McGonigle silver lining Tigers fans are hoping maintains through 2026

Tigers fans were more optimistic about the 2026 season than they have been in years — and that's not an overstatement.

According to a poll from The Athletic, we were the fourth-most optimistic fanbase in baseball — but through their first 10 games, this Tigers roster hasn't lived up to expectations.

They're 4-6, third in the AL Central. Defense looks very bad, middle relief looks very bad, offense is spotty. They've suffered two shutouts already this season, the most egregious of which was Tarik Skubal and the Tigers' bullpen's one-run effort against the Diamondbacks. Detroit's offense couldn't muster a run and left seven on base.

But it's still early, and there are silver linings. Kevin McGonigle, of course, started building his case for AL Rookie of the Year on his very first major league swing.

Arguably, Colt Keith has been even better.

Despite slow starts in both of his last two seasons, the Tigers' only contracted position player other than Javy Báez is hitting .387 with a .972 OPS in nine games. He improved by his bat speed by around 2 MPH, and he ranks in the 96th percentile in average exit velocity at 95.3 MPH.

Colt Keith's improved bat speed, exit velocity are positive signs for a real Tigers breakout season

A Tigers fanbase that has historically been, perhaps unfairly, tough on Keith has changed their tune. There was outrage when he was given an off day for Detroit's home opener, and then more when AJ Hinch decided to pinch-hit Jahmai Jones for him in that series' close finale, which the Tigers went on to lose.

Keith leads the Tigers in hits and doubles, which has catapulted him to the top of Detroit's order since the end of their series against the Diamondbacks. McGonigle occasionally takes over there, but as long as Keith is also in the lineup, he's not far behind.

There's almost no way Keith stays this good throughout the entire season, and it would be unfair to ask that of him. The rest of the offense can't keep letting Keith and McGonigle carry them.

But improved bat speed and exit velocity aren't just flukes. He's getting to balls faster and squaring them up better. He pointed to losing a little bit of weight in the offseason and loosening up in the box, as well as changes to his mental approach.

Whatever it is, it's working. This is a player who's been looking for a true breakout for a long time now, and he might finally have gotten to that point.