Detroit Tigers prospect Kevin McGonigle, who may make the team out of spring training, took home the Arizona Fall League MVP. In doing so, he becomes the second straight Tigers prospect to take home the award, joining Josue Briceño. In doing so, the Tigers become the first time ever to have back-to-back MVP's.

Rogelio Castillo (@rogcastbaseball) on X

The Tigers are the first team to ever have back to back MVPs. The Cubs have 4 and McGonigle joins Briceño and Chris Shelton

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This also marks the third time a Detroit Tigers player has won the Joe Black MVP award, the first being Chris Shelton in 2003.  The award was named after former Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Joe Black. He was the first Black pitcher to win a game in the World Series after taking home the 1952 National League Rookie of the Year award. 

Since the AFL started, the number 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline has done nothing but rake.  He has hit .362/.500/.710 with an OPS of 1.210 for Scottsdale. 

The buzz around Kevin continues as the national pundits have chimed in on his skill set. 

"McGonigle is such a good hitter & has such a presence about him. After watching him in the AFL, I  like him even more now, which I didn't think possible"  Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline said.  A baseball guy last night compared him to a lefty-hitting Alex Bregman & I'll buy that.

The noise is so loud that even his foul balls are gathering attention. He hit one during the Fall Stars game out at 118 MPH. 

What Kevin has been trying to work on the most is his defense. Along with Max Anderson, who was up to this season, playing third base, McGonigle was also seeing time at 3B in addition to getting more reps at short. 

What has been the secret to his success? Keeping it as simple as possible. 

"I like saying it's hitting dumb almost," McGonigle said in a recent MLB article. "Just going up thinking fastball and then just reacting to the offspeed and just trying to put a good swing on the pitcher's mistake. If you lose one in the heart of the plate, just make a good swing and connect with it. And if you don't, then keep battling."

One of the biggest questions remains. Can he make the leap from Double-A to Detroit and make the team out of spring training in 2026? It really depends on how the Tigers will spend, if at all, this offseason. 

He has nothing but hit when healthy and being that he is just turned 21, he looks very polished at the plate. Even with the struggles during the postseason run in Double-A Erie where he was rolling the ball over to second a bit, the Tigers think enough of him that he will get the spring training invite.

Scott Harris has indicated time and time again that Toledo is the final stop before a player heads to Detroit. It has been a while since a position player has made the team without a stop at Toledo, and the conservative approach has been applied when it comes to prospects.  For now, McGonigle will head back east and wait for spring training but if he can prove he can hit higher velocity and sliders, he may be heading north in April. 

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