Detroit Tigers shortstop prospect Kevin McGonigle started the 2025 season with a bang, going 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles and four RBI in High-A West Michigan' home opener on April 4. However, he hasn't appeared in a game since.
Jon Morosi of MLB Network first reported Sunday that McGonigle would "miss time" with an ankle injury, but the severity of the injury and timeline to return were unknown, and he had yet to be placed on the injured list. Several days later, the Tigers finally revealed more details on the injury as part of a minor league medical update.
According to the Tigers' report, McGonigle suffered a right ankle sprain while running the bases during a game last Friday, which was his season debut with West Michigan. He has since been moved to the 7-day injured list and is completing rehab daily.
Tigers reveal new details on Kevin McGonigle's ankle injury
McGonigle split last season between Class-A Lakeland and West Michigan and slashed a combined .309/.401/.452 across both levels with five home runs and 44 RBI. He also had 16 doubles, four triples, 22 stolen bases, 49 runs and a 46:22 walk-to-strikeout ratio. His 2024 season was cut short, however, as he appeared in just 14 games with West Michigan before being shut down in August with a broken hand.
The Tigers have a lot invested in McGonigle's future, so his long-term health is the highest priority. After selecting him at No. 37 overall in the 2023 MLB Draft and paying him $2.85 million in bonus money to forgo college, the Tigers have developed McGonigle into their No. 3 prospect and the No. 27 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline.
The Tigers did not disclose how long it would take for McGonigle to return from this latest injury, and history tells us that players who land on the 7-day injured list rarely return in seven days' time. But in this instance, getting the injury healed properly is far more important for the Tigers (and McGonigle himself) than fast tracking his return to minor league game action.
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