Zach McKinstry’s confounding ascendance might be biggest surprise of Tigers' season

Former first-round draft picks Casey Mize and Spencer Torkelson look like they're finally fulfilling their destinies this season, but the Tigers also have another much-maligned fan least-favorite who is proving all of his doubters wrong so far. Utilityman Zach McKinstry is leading all of Detroit's qualified players in batting average and OBP and has been a key part of the outfield given all of the injuries the Tigers have already sustained this season.

Through the Tigers' series opener against the Padres on Monday, McKinstry had a seven-game on-base streak, and he got three hits down (two for extra bases, one of which scored a run), which led AJ Hinch to give him the day off for the second game as a "thank you." McKinstry extended that to eight games on Wednesday when he logged a hit in his final at-bat after going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.

"He has been incredible for us on so many levels," Hinch said. "I told him before the game that I've been running him out there every day because he's really hard to give a day off to."

McKinstry's gotten 19 starts but has subbed in for three more, and has gotten on base in each of those pinch-hit plate appearances. He was never going to be much of a power hitter, but his 12 RBI make him second to only Spencer Torkelson on Detroit's leaderboard.

Who would've thought?

Zach McKinstry is quietly emerging as an on-base machine for the Tigers

McKinstry has had a couple of great stretches in his last two seasons as a Tiger, but, all told, he batted .225 with a .638 OPS across 2023 and 2024 and saw his playing time decrease last year because of it. He's been subjected to multiple calls for removal from the roster when he's hit his lows.

However, McKinstry is proving Tigers GM Jeff Greenberg, who called McKinstry the Tigers' "most indispensable 'under-the-radar' player" last year, prophetic. The question "Where would the Tigers be without Zach McKinstry?" isn't one that fans expected to be asking at any point last year, but we're asking it now.

McKinstry is currently tied with Torkelson as Detroit's most valuable player by fWAR at 1.2 when they finished off the 2024 season at 0.8 and 0.3, respectively. With Riley Greene and Colt Keith struggling at the plate, McKinstry stepping up has been imperative to the Tigers' success so far.

We extended an apology to Tork, so we have to give one to McKinstry too. Kudos, dude.