In the final game of the season, the Detroit Tigers finally found something that Kevin McGonigle messed up.
A curtain call to end his amazing rookie season.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, who has a knack for finding special ways to honor his players (see Justin Verlander's walk off with his daughter on Saturday), wanted to pull McGonigle from the season finale after he hit a double, or a single, or even got on with a walk. Hinch wanted to create a special moment to acknowledge McGonigle’s historic rookie season on Sunday, Sept. 27.
But the dang kid screwed it up: His final hit of the 2026 season was a home run – his 18th of the season.
So, Hinch had to pull McGonigle in the eighth inning when the Tigers were on defense.
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“I think we found the one thing we're going to talk to Kevin about improving over the winter, which is the curtain call,” Hinch joked on Sunday, Sept. 27. “We really wanted to give him a moment. I thought he was going to single or walk or double or something, and then he goes ahead and hits a homer. Then we didn't have a lot of time to get him off the field.”
McGonigle walked off the field, as the crowd gave him a quick, well-deserved ovation. He smiled and tipped his cap, approaching the dugout. McGonigle went down the steps and met Hinch with a massive bearhug, ending one of the greatest rookie seasons in not just Tigers history, but MLB history.
McGonigle is one of only two rookies in baseball history to accumulate a stat line that includes at least 96 runs, 28 doubles, 18 home runs, 72 RBI and 95 walks. The other? Oh, just some dude named Ted Williams, who did it in 1939 and went on to be arguably the greatest pure hitter of all time.
Or, you can quantify it a different way, with the new metrics: McGonigle went into the final game with a 6.9 bWAR (per Baseball Reference) – the ninth-highest bWAR total of any rookie position player in modern MLB history, dating to 1901.
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“Respecting accomplishment matters to me,” Hinch said. “So I wanted to at least get him a chance to get an ovation in front of our home fans. I probably should have gone to the mound and actually told him what I was doing, but it gave the boys on the bench some ammo to get under Kevin's skin.”
Alas, even though McGonigle hit a homer – and even though Eduardo Valencia, another talented rookie, added a monstrous homer of his own – the Tigers lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-2, which seemed like the most fitting, symbolic way to end this disappointing season.
It was the Tigers' 52nd loss by two runs or less. In many ways, that’s the story of this season. The Tigers got some impressive performances by the rookies, which certainly gives hope for the future. But they still lost another close game.
So, what does Hinch hope his players feel right now after squandering a season that started with plenty of realistic postseason expectation?
“Pretty empty, to be honest,” Hinch said. “I want them to feel like we weren't invited to the to the biggest party in baseball. October baseball is something you have to earn, but it's also something that you should cherish.”
One who certainly despises losing is Hao-Yu Lee; the rookie infielder broke his bat over his left knee after striking out in the eighth. He walked off the field, holding pieces of his shattered bat like somebody carrying kindling to a campfire.
And I found that fantastic, to see that kind of desire.
“On the last day of the season, in a game that everybody talks about being meaningless, is not meaningless to him,” Hinch said. “He was not thrilled, but I was thrilled that he was able to continue to walk.”
Yes, give me more of that kind of spirit.
Y'know, without breaking the bat.
Tigers better not get used to this ending
In the clubhouse, the Tigers were packing bags and hugging goodbye.
Justin Verlander, the legendary righty, walked down the back row of lockers, hugging every player he could reach.
“Enjoy your retirement!” somebody said.
I’ve covered the Tigers in the playoffs the last two seasons, and this felt so weird, to end a season this way.
The Tigers finished 76-86 – their worst record since losing 96 games in 2022 – which is completely unacceptable for a team that talked all spring about getting to the World Series. A talented team that went out and spent money ($202 million, 11th most in MLB, according to USA TODAY).
So, why did they collapse?There are several reasons.
First thing: a ridiculous number of injuries. At times, it felt like they were playing with half their roster.
Next: They collapsed in May – when a lot of those injuries hit – going 6-22.
Next: They lost far too many close games. I mean, losing 14 straight close games (two runs or less) on the road in the American League Central can’t happen. And you don’t deserve to win the division when you go 18-34 against the Central.
Again, unacceptable.
Another reason: Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris built a bullpen that blew 32 saves. And overall, the Tigers blew 44 leads.
Again, unacceptable.
And yet, this team had a plus-71 run differential, with an expected record of 89-73 (fourth-best in the AL).
Which just boggles the mind.
Yes, there's reason for hope
So, there is hope moving forward.
The Tigers have several rookies who were fantastic: McGonigle, obviously, was incredible in his age-21 season.
Fellow 2023 first-round pick Max Clark has the potential to be an All-Star, and he won't turn 22 till December.
Valencia can freakin’ hit. “He's a threat every single time up,” Hinch said.
Lee is a keeper, giving this team a fantastic fire and energy. Ben Malgeri is an intriguing, versatile outfield piece who can defend and run and hit. And John Peck is a shortstop who is so gifted defensively that Hinch hopes the ball gets hit to him.
“We're young, we don't know any better,” Clark said. “We just want to go out there and expect to win every single game. I think we're also surrounded by people who want to win. A.J. is sick to his stomach, like the rest of us, when we lose. And that's what you want leading your team. Somebody who doesn't like losing, and I think this group has that.”
Best of all, many of those youngsters won together in the minor leagues.
“It's a bunch of guys who have played together,” Clark said. “It's also a big group of guys who've won together. Kevin and I won at every level, so we like that feeling, and we we've been there, and we want to strive for it.”
And so, the goodbyes continued.
McGonigle walked across the clubhouse and found Clark. They stopped for a massive hug – two close friends who have arrived.
Yes, this season was disappointing.
But man, these rookies offer reason for hope.
So, even though that record might not show it, even though this season should sting, this organization is in a fantastic spot moving forward.
Just as long as Lee stops snapping bats over his knee.
And McGonigle learns to take a proper curtain call.
Because, I have a feeling, there will be more to come.
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Sting of Tigers' 2026 flop won't go away soon for young stars
