Tigers top prospect features in insane AFL inning and makes intriguing defensive move

Tigers' No. 1 prospect Kevin McGonigle is well on his way to the major leagues and, by all estimations, will probably be with the big league club by next spring. For now, he's in the Arizona Fall League getting some extra reps in after his huge showing in Double-A, which should make him even more prepared to impress in spring training.

He's played in eight games so far for the Scottsdale Scorpions and is hitting .286 with a .876 OPS. Although he's been overshadowed a bit by fellow Tigers prospect Max Anderson, who is hitting .500 with a ridiculous 1.857 OPS in six games, it's still the kind of production the Tigers want to see from their top prospect.

On Sunday, McGonigle was part of a record-breaking AFL inning, when the Scorpions scored 12 runs over the Surprise Saguaros in the bottom of the second. In his first at-bat, he hammered a 415-foot, two-run double that would've been a homer in some major league ballparks. The lineup turned over to give McGonigle another at-bat in the same inning, and he put another RBI on the board with a single to score the Scorpions' 12th run.

Tigers' No. 1 prospect Kevin McGonigle picks up three RBI in one inning the Arizona Fall League, shifts defense over to third base

The question with McGonigle is where the Tigers will put him when he gets to the big leagues. McGonigle was drafted as a shortstop and made the vast majority of his starts at shortstop, with a few appearances at DH and one at second base. He looks like a very obvious upgrade from Trey Sweeney at short, and Javy Báez has proven to be an incredibly versatile defensive player in the outfield. If the Tigers don't re-sign Gleyber Torres or another second baseman to replace him, they would probably move Colt Keith back there.

However, McGonigle has made all six of his AFL starts at third base, a position that is an annual question for the Tigers. By the end of the season, Zach McKinstry, Andy Ibáñez, and Keith were splitting time there, but there are both internal and external options the Tigers could explore in the offseason. Anderson, if he's not traded, has spent some time at third. Hao-Yu Lee, who the Tigers will need to make a roster decision on or risk losing him in the Rule 5 draft, has spent time there. And then there's the constant question of whether or not the Tigers will get Alex Bregman.

Could McGonigle really end up fighting with Anderson and Lee for an Opening Day spot at third? Will the Tigers really hang on to Sweeney?

They probably want to keep all of their options open and just see how he plays at third — after all, the Tigers love a do-it-all guy. But it'll certainly be a storyline to look out for as McGonigle gets closer to his debut.