Tigers Overreaction: AJ Hinch will probably have to make Kevin McGonigle lineup change soon

On Opening Day, Kevin McGonigle became just the second player in Tigers franchise history to collect four hits in his MLB debut. The last to do it was Billy Bean on April 25, 1987.

McGonigle's first major league hit turned into a two-run double to spark the Tigers' offense early, and they went on to steamroll the Padres 8-2 behind a six-inning, one (unearned)-run start from Tarik Skubal.

McGonigle did all of that batting sixth in the lineup. AJ Hinch might need to rethink his spot in the order.

Opening Day was a big one for MLB debuts. The Mets' Carson Benge, the White Sox's Munetaka Murakami, and the Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt all hit homers in their respective games. While McGonigle is still waiting to add a long ball to his already growing list of major league accomplishments, Tigers fans have no reason to be anything but thrilled about what we saw from him yesterday.

He was consistent, he was a professional both on the field and off. The pressure didn't get to him one bit.

Let's get the kid even more at-bats, shall we?

Kevin McGonigle should have AJ Hinch rethinking his lineup just one game into Tigers' season

Hinch has already revealed that fans should expect to see McGonigle at his native shortstop at some point during this opening series. The Tigers have been smart in that way; their devotion to developing versatile defensive players lets them keep their options open without having to compromise much.

If Hinch wants to go with the same starting nine he used on Opening Day but put McGonigle at shortstop, he can. McGonigle at short, Javy Báez in center, Parker Meadows in right, Kerry Carpenter at DH, Colt Keith at third. And that's just one way things could shake out.

The lineup will be similarly malleable. Hinch rarely employed the exact same order more than a few games in a row last year, preferring to mix-and-match to keep opposing starting pitchers on their toes.

But there's no doubt that McGonigle already made himself look like a guy who deserves to be shifted up a couple places, and often. Carpenter, batting first on Thursday, looked like a pretty ineffective leadoff hitter and has typically done best a little lower anyway.

We know we're overreacting. We've only seen McGonigle for a single major league game. But still, we wouldn't be surprised if he inches his way up the roster as soon as Game 2.