McGonigle leads Tigers' prospects for 2026 impact.

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00:00Welcome to this update on the Tigers' future. Last week Scott Harris, the president of baseball

00:06operations for the Tigers, along with manager A.J. Hinch, held a press conference to reflect

00:11on the recently concluded season. As they evaluated the successes and challenges of

00:1520 talent radio, it became evident that Harris is focused on the future. The Tigers are facing

00:25a significant off-season as they aim to build on their consecutive appearances in the division

00:29series. During his discussion about areas for improvement, Harris emphasized the importance

00:34of facilitating smoother transitions for young prospects into the major leagues.

00:39We need to enhance our approach to integrating young players into the big leagues, Harris stated.

00:44Since my arrival, I have consistently highlighted the need to ensure that the environment for Colt

00:51Keith and Parker Meadows is an improvement over what Riley Green and Spencer Torkelson experienced.

00:56Furthermore, it's essential that Dylan Dingler's entry into the league is better than the conditions

01:01faced by Colt Keith and Parker Meadows. We must continue to strive for this progression.

01:05It is essential to continue making advancements in this area, as it holds significant importance

01:10for our future. We have had extensive discussions regarding our last three drafts. We've also focused

01:15on several players emerging from the minor leagues. Many of these players are on the verge of making

01:20an impact. A good number of them are expected to contribute next year, and we must ensure that

01:26the environment they enter will maximize their potential. This preparation needs to begin

01:31immediately. It was clear who Harris was referring to. Kevin McGonigal, Max Clark, and Josue Briseño

01:36established a strong foundation for High A West Michigan, leading them to a Midwest League

01:39Championship. They also played a crucial role in bringing Double A Erie within one game of achieving its

01:46third consecutive Eastern League title. Meanwhile, Max Anderson, who is slightly ahead of the others,

01:52excelled in the Eastern League during the first half of the season and helped guide Triple A Toledo

01:58close to securing a playoff spot. For the Tigers to progress further, this group will be instrumental

02:04in that journey. The expectation is that many, if not all, of the players will participate in the big

02:10league camp during the upcoming spring training. Harris expressed confidence in the players who had

02:15outstanding seasons in Double A, stating, I anticipate that those who had dominant performances

02:20will play a role in our major league team next year. They have truly earned this opportunity.

02:26At just 20 years old, they achieved remarkable success at a high level. I believe their development

02:32will continue, and I foresee them making their way to Detroit at some point next season.

02:38The question arises, how soon might this happen, and what implications could it have for the Tigers

02:43roster? Below is a brief overview of four prospects and how they might fit into the team.

02:49Kevin McGonigal

02:50Infielder

02:52Ranked No. 1 by the Tigers

02:55No. 2 by MLB

02:57Prepare to hear a lot about this former supplemental first-round draft pick.

03:03Hailing from Philadelphia, McGonigal grew up admiring Chase Utley, and his playing style reflects that

03:08admiration. He possesses a powerful left-handed bat, demonstrates resilience on the field,

03:13and exhibits a strong competitive nature. Over the course of 88 games spanning three developmental

03:18levels, he achieved an impressive batting line of 305-408-583, which included 31 doubles, 19 home runs,

03:2880 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases. With a remarkable 182 WRC+, McGonigal topped all minor league players who had at least

03:37300 plate appearances this season. He is also performing well in the Arizona Fall League,

03:45highlighted by a forward 16-foot home run he hit on Wednesday. Primarily a shortstop,

03:50McGonigal is versatile enough to play various positions in the infield, and, he is currently

03:56focusing on third base during the AFL. This versatility provides the Tigers with significant

04:01options, alongside players like Zach McKinstry, Javier Baez, and Keith. However, McGonigal has only

04:08played 46 games above A-ball, which makes it less likely for him to secure a spot on the opening day

04:14roster. Nevertheless, if he excels in spring training and the Tigers find a suitable opportunity,

04:19the prospect of McGonigal contending for rookie of the year, and potentially earning the team an

04:24additional first-round pick through the prospect promotion incentive, could be appealing.

04:28Max Clark, who plays centerfield, is ranked as the Tigers' second-best prospect and eighth overall

04:34in MLB. He was the third overall pick in the same 2023 draft that selected McGonigal and was considered

04:41the Tigers' top prospect until McGonigal's breakout performance. Ranked as a top-10 prospect in baseball

04:47by MLB Pipeline, his season highlighted his diverse skill set and consistent development,

04:53reflected in his impressive 271-403-432 batting line and 19 stolen bases out of 21 attempts.

05:03Similar to McGonigal, he possesses a keen ability to discern the strike zone, often drawing walks,

05:08which is something that pleases Harris. Additionally, he excels as a defender in the

05:12outfield. Although Clark requires more time to fully develop his game, his potential to become a

05:17well-rounded player at Comarica Park may prompt the team to consider making room for him next season,

05:22provided he continues to perform well at the plate. However, this situation could become complicated

05:27if Meadows has a successful return in centerfield, leading to a potential conflict among the emerging

05:33prospects. Max Anderson, an infielder ranked as the Tigers' number-nine prospect, was selected in the

05:39second round of the 2023 draft after showcasing his hitting prowess at Nebraska. Now, two years later,

05:47he has continued to impress with his bat at the professional level. The 23-year-old recorded a

05:52batting average of Tudu 96-350-478, accumulating 31 doubles, 19 home runs, and 88 RBIs over 90 games

06:02with Erie and 32 games with Toledo. James has risen to the number-nine prospect in the Detroit Tigers

06:08organization and is currently excelling in the Arizona Fall League, where he has hit three home runs

06:14and driven in eight runs in his first seven games. In 2024, Anderson primarily played as a second

06:21baseman, but this season he has been shifting more towards third base. His impressive performance

06:26against left-handed pitchers, reflected in his 1.017 OPS this season, along with his strong bat-to-ball

06:32skills, positions him as a promising candidate for a role similar to those successfully filled by Andy

06:38Ibanez and Jamai Jones, who are known for their effectiveness against lefties.

06:43Josue Briceño, who is ranked as the Tigers' number-three prospect and number-33 overall in MLB,

06:49was making headlines a year ago as he dominated the Fall League, earning a triple crown, an MVP award,

06:55and a spot in the top 100 prospects. He continued to build on that success by excelling in the Midwest

07:01League during the first half of this season. Although he faced some challenges adjusting to double-A

07:07pitching, he ultimately adapted well, achieving a .266, .383, .500 batting line across both levels,

07:16with 20 home runs and 76 RBIs in 100 games. Briceño, a left-handed batter known for his ability to hit

07:24powerfully to all areas of the field, recently celebrated his 21st birthday in September. Among the

07:31players in his group, he may have the most challenging journey ahead to reach the major leagues.

07:35In addition to refining his skills against more advanced pitching, the Tigers need to determine

07:40whether he can effectively play as a catcher, or if he is better suited for first base in the long

07:45run. If he can serve as a part-time catcher, he would add valuable flexibility to the Tigers' roster,

07:51complementing Dingler as a backup. However, if he ultimately transitions to first base,

07:56the team may eventually have to make a choice between him and Torkelson.

07:59Which of these prospects are you most excited to see in Detroit?

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