ESPN just dropped a list breaking down the biggest successes and disappointments for every MLB team, and for the Tigers, it’s a real mixed bag. No surprises on who came out on top, though. Writer Bradford Doolittle didn’t hold back, singling out Kevin McGonigle as the absolute breakout success of the season, and honestly, can anyone argue with that?
The McGonigle Goggles Are On Fire!
This rookie’s year has been nothing short of magical to watch. McGonigle has already zoomed past the six-win mark, making him a probable lock for the AL Rookie of the Year award. That’s a huge deal for a 21-year-old in his first big league season! But here’s the wild part, the real nail-biter: can McGonigle finish the season with more walks than strikeouts? He’s sitting at 88 walks and 89 strikeouts right now. Talk about a razor-thin margin! It’s going to be an intense race to the finish line, and if he pulls it off, that’s just another layer of incredible on an already unbelievable rookie campaign.
The One-Run Losses That Cost Them Everything
While McGonigle is all sunshine and rainbows, the other side of that ESPN list is a gut punch: the trade of Tarik Skubal. Yeah, most of us saw it coming, inevitable even, but that doesn’t make it sting any less. Doolittle pointed out how the Tigers absolutely tanked in one-run games this season. Think about it, those extra-winnable games, the ones that swing momentum, those went completely against them. If they could have just grabbed a few more of those close ones, maybe, just maybe, they wouldn’t have been in a position where trading Skubal felt like the “right thing.” They ended up a surreal 26 games under .500 in games decided by one or two runs. That’s a brutal stat, and it really highlights why the season has felt like such a disappointment despite individual flashes of brilliance.
Verlander Honored Beyond the Mound
Beyond the field heroics and the season’s struggles, there’s some seriously good news for the Tigers organization. Justin Verlander, who’s still slinging it, has been nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award. That’s a massive honor, recognizing his incredible work supporting military veterans and their families, as well as his involvement with the Detroit Tigers Foundation and youth baseball programs. It’s a powerful reminder that some of the biggest impacts happen off the diamond.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bless You Boys.
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