Tigers go back-to-back with AFL MVP honors in latest farm system statement

For the second year in a row, a Detroit Tigers prospect has won the Joe Black MVP Award at the Arizona Fall League.

Shortstop Kevin McGonigle captured the award in 2025, following catcher Josue Briceño's MVP campaign in 2024. McGonigle, the No. 2 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, slashed .362/.500/.710 in 19 games, leading the developmental circuit in extra-base hits (12) and total bases (49) while ranking second in runs (22) and homers (five) plus third in slugging and OPS (1.210).

This is a huge moment for the Tigers — not just because McGonigle dominated the Arizona Fall League — but because his MVP win marks a validation of the franchise’s entire developmental direction under Scott Harris.

For years, the Tigers were defined by their inability to grow homegrown bats. McGonigle’s AFL MVP campaign –– and Briceño's before him –– is the clearest signal yet that the hitting infrastructure that Harris and his staff rebuilt is finally working.

Having a Tigers prospect win the award two years in a row is remarkable. It means Briceño's breakout in 2024 wasn’t a fluke. The Tigers are now the only organization to produce consecutive AFL MVPs in the 21st century, putting them in the same conversation as other clubs known for elite development pipelines.

McGonigle’s emergence adds real pressure and flexibility to Detroit’s infield plans. With Javier Báez’s contract winding down and Trey Sweeney yet to prove he’s an everyday piece, McGonigle’s combination of polish, patience and line-drive power suddenly gives the Tigers an internal heir apparent — potentially as soon as late 2026.

Kevin McGonigle's AFL MVP fits a broader trend in Tigers' prospect development

This isn’t just about one player. McGonigle’s dominance fits a broader trend — the Tigers’ top prospects (McGonigle, Briceño, Max Clark, etc.) are now performing instead of just projecting. MLB Pipeline ranking McGonigle at No. 2 overall reinforces that Detroit’s system has evolved from “depth-heavy” to star-heavy.

In McGonigle, the Tigers now have a hitter who could anchor their next playoff lineup — and a developmental reputation that could attract more high-upside bats in trades and drafts. His AFL MVP trophy is a representation of the fact that the Tigers have gone from hoping to find hitters to producing them.

Two straight AFL MVPs, a top-five farm system, and a Cy Young ace in Tarik Skubal? For the first time in a long time, Detroit’s future doesn’t just look promising — it looks sustainable.