Tigers fans will love Phillies getting roasted for all-time Kevin McGonigle draft whiff

Not only do Detroit Tigers fans get to delight in the fact that Kevin McGonigle is off to an incredible start to his big league career, they can also laugh at other fanbases that passed him over. Some Philadelphia Phillies fans clearly lament the fact that the team went with shortstop Aidan Miller over McGonigle. The fact that McGonigle is a Pennsylvania native only makes it hurt even more.

While McGonigle is hitting .314/.411/.488 with two home runs and 13 runs driven in entering Saturday's game, Miller is currently on the shelf with a back issue. Injuries are obviously impossible to predict, and it’s possible that Miller will go on to be a fine big leaguer, but every team has to be regretting not drafting McGonigle right now.

Phillies fans are regretting the fact that team passed over Kevin McGonigle

The 21-year-old was selected No. 37 overall in the 2023 MLB Draft. That means every team had a chance to draft him but they all passed him over. Now he looks like one of the best hitters in MLB. His batted ball metrics are insane and his Baseball Savant page is just covered in red.

Detroit has already locked him up for the foreseeable future on an eight-year, $150 million deal. At this rate, that contract could end up looking like a mere pittance if he can sustain what he is currently doing at the plate. The pre-season Rookie of the Year chatter does not seem premature at all, so he has certainly lived up to the hype.

Just to rub it in Philadelphia’s face a little more, Miller has not really been all that exceptional in the minors. In 2024, across multiple levels, he slashed .261/.366/.466 with 11 home runs and 60 runs batted in. Last season, he hit .264/.392/.433 with 14 homes, 42 runs batted in, and 59 stolen bases.

He’s got a lot of promise, but there’s always concern when a young prospect gets injured during their development. Will it impact them going forward? If they aren’t at full health when they come back or it’s a lingering issue, will they try to make swing adjustments and get into bad habits as a result? It’s tough to say at this point but the Phillies could easily wind up with even more egg on their face if Miller doesn’t pan out.

Every team has their own “what-if” when it comes to draft whiffs. It stings even more when a team passes on a guy with local ties. The Seattle Mariners passed on Washington native Tim Lincecum in the 2006 MLB Draft. The Tampa Bay Rays passed on Buster Posey, who played his college ball at Florida State, in 2008.

McGonigle could end up being the “one that got away” for the Phillies at this rate. At least the Tigers can feel good knowing they were the ones who will reap the rewards from taking a chance on him.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow