TIGERS, INF KEVIN MCGONIGLE AGREE TO EIGHT-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION DEAL BEGINS NEXT SEASON, COVERS 2027-2034 CAMPAIGNS

The Detroit Tigers and infielder Kevin McGonigle have agreed to terms on an eight-year contract extension worth $150,000,000 guaranteed. The deal, which begins next year, covers the 2027-2034 seasons, which includes McGonigle’s final five seasons of club control plus his first three years of free agency. The deal includes contract escalators for the final three seasons that could bring the total value to a maximum of $160,000,000.

McGonigle will earn guaranteed salaries of $1,000,000 during the 2027 season, $7,000,000 in 2028, $16,000,000 in 2029, $21,000,000 in 2030, $22,000,000 in 2031 and $23,000,000 in the 2032, 2033 and 2034 campaigns. Contract escalators could increase his 2032 maximum base salary to $25,000,000, his 2033 maximum base salary to $26,000,000 and his 2034 maximum base salary to $28,000,000. The deal also includes a $14,000,000 signing bonus and a $5,000,000 assignment bonus each time the contract is assigned to another major league organization.

The 21-year-old McGonigle entered the 2026 campaign ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect in all of baseball by Baseball America, MLB Pipeline and other national outlets and was labeled by mlb.com as arguably the best hitting prospect of the current decade thus far. Going into this season, he was awarded by Baseball America as their only 80-grade hitter in their prospect handbook, noting that he was the only minor league hitter last year to rank in the top 20 percent in power, swing decisions and contact ability.

In what would be his final test against minor league competition, McGonigle last year earned Arizona Fall League MVP honors after he batted .362 with five home runs, 19 RBI and a 1.210 OPS in 19 games, drawing more walks (19) than strikeouts (12). That has been a theme of McGonigle’s professional career, as he drew 123 walks compared to only 84 strikeouts in 818 career minor league plate appearances.

McGonigle made the major league club out of spring training and has seen his young big-league career jump out to a fast start. He is one of only 10 position players in all of baseball so far this season to post a 1.1 bWAR or better. McGonigle is the only player on that list younger than 24-years-old.

The left-handed hitter enters tonight’s game batting .311 (19-for-61) with a .417 on-base percentage and .492 slugging percentage, good for a team-leading .909 OPS. He has reached base safely in 13 straight-starts and in 15 of 16 starts overall. Just 17 games into his major league career, he is one of only 10 major leaguers with more walks (11) than strikeouts (eight) with a minimum of 11 bases on balls.

McGonigle was originally selected by the Tigers in the first round (37th overall) of the 2023 Draft out of Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast High School in Drexel Hill, PA.

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Detroit Tigers Schedule 2026

*Updated

Comerica Park Parking Lots
Comerica Park Seating Chart

The post Detroit Tigers Schedule 2026 appeared first on In Play! magazine.

Detroit Tigers Announce 2026 Opening Day Roster

Thursday, March 26, Detroit Tigers @ Sand Diego Padres 4:10 pm EST

NO. PITCHERS (13) B-T HT WT AGE BORN BIRTHPLACE
38 Anderson, Drew R-R 6-3 205 32 3/22/1994 Reno, NV
67 Finnegan, Kyle R-R 6-2 198 34 9/4/1991 Detroit, MI
9 Flaherty, Jack R-R 6-4 225 30 10/15/1995 Burbank, CA
87 Holton, Tyler L-L 6-2 200 29 6/13/1996 Tallahassee, FL
48 Hurter, Brant L-L 6-6 250 27 9/6/1998 Canton, GA
74 Jansen, Kenley R-S 6-5 265 38 9/30/1987 Willemstad, Curacao
37 De Jesus, Enmanuel L-L 6-3 190 29 12/10/1996 Valencia, Venezuela
12 Mize, Casey R-R 6-3 212 28 5/1/1997 Springville, AL
43 Seabold, Connor R-R 6-2 190 30 1/24/1996 Laguna Hills, CA
29 Skubal, Tarik R-L 6-3 240 29 11/20/1996 Hayward, CA
59 Valdez, Framber R-L 5-11 230 32 11/19/1993 Sabana Grande de Palengue, D.R.
35 Verlander, Justin R-R 6-5 240 43 2/20/1983 Manakin Sabot, VA
19 Vest, Will R-R 6-0 180 30 6/6/1995 Houston, TX

NO. CATCHERS (2) B-T HT WT AGE BORN BIRTHPLACE
13 Dingler, Dillon R-R 6-1 210 27 9/17/1998 Massillon, OH
34 Rogers, Jake R-R 5-11 201 30 4/18/1995 Canyon, TX

NO. INFIELDERS (6) B-T HT WT AGE BORN BIRTHPLACE
28 Báez, Javier R-R 5-11 190 33 12/1/1992 Bayamon, Puerto Rico
33 Keith, Colt L-R 6-2 211 24 8/14/2001 Zanesville, OH
7 McGonigle, Kevin L-R 5-9 187 21 8/18/2004 Media, PA
39 McKinstry, Zach L-R 5-11 180 30 4/29/1995 Toledo, OH
20 Torkelson, Spencer R-R 6-1 220 26 8/26/1999 Petaluma, CA
25 Torres, Gleyber R-R 5-10 205 29 12/13/1996 Caracas, Venezuela

NO. OUTFIELDERS (5) B-T HT WT AGE BORN BIRTHPLACE
30 Carpenter, Kerry L-R 6-1 220 28 9/2/1997 Eustis, FL
31 Greene, Riley L-L 6-2 200 25 9/28/2000 Orlando, FL
18 Jones, Jahmai R-R 5-10 210 28 8/4/1997 Roswell, GA
22 Meadows, Parker L-R 6-5 205 26 11/2/1999 Atlanta, GA
8 Vierling, Matt R-R 6-1 205 29 9/16/1996 St. Louis, MO

Detroit Tigers Schedule

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TIGERS SIGN RHP CONNOR SEABOLD TO 2026 CONTRACT

The Detroit Tigers have signed right-handed pitcher Connor Seabold to a 2026 split major league contract worth $800,000 at the big-league level. Right-handed pitcher Beau Brieske has been placed on the 60-day injured list with a left adductor strain. Detroit’s 40-man roster stands at 40 players.

Seabold, 30, joins the Tigers having spent all or part of four seasons in the majors with the Boston Red Sox (2021-2022), Colorado Rockies (2023), Tampa Bay Rays (2025) and Atlanta Braves (2025). He also pitched for Samsung in the KBO during the 2024 campaign. Seabold went to spring training this year with the Toronto Blue Jays before being granted his release this past weekend.

In 2024 with Samsung in the KBO, Seabold went 11-6 with a 3.43 ERA in 28 starts, striking out 158 batters in 160.0 innings pitched. He returned to the United States in 2025 and spent most of last season in Triple-A, combining to make 22 appearances (10 starts) between Durham (Tampa Bay) and Gwinnett (Atlanta). Seabold also made seven relief outings between both parent clubs, posting no record and a 4.35 ERA in 10.1 major league innings pitched in 2025.

Overall, Seabold has made 40 appearances (19 starts) in the big leagues (1-11, 7.79 ERA) while going 27-22 with a 4.16 ERA in 102 minor league outings (84 starts)

Seabold was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the third round of the 2017 Draft out of Cal-State Fullerton.

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Ilitch Sports + Entertainment Announces Launch of Detroit SportsNet

Ilitch Sports + Entertainment has announced the launch of Detroit SportsNet (DSN), a year-round broadcast home for two of the most iconic franchises in sports. With flexible options to watch via cable/satellite television packages and in-market streaming, Detroit SportsNet is the place to watch all locally televised Detroit Tigers (starting this season) and Detroit Red Wings (starting 2026-27) games.

Available for the first time starting today, fans can learn more about Detroit SportsNet in-market streaming subscriptions by visiting online.

Subscribing to Detroit SportsNet enables fans to stream Tigers and Red Wings games through a single subscription within our local market: 

• In-market streaming subscription options: monthly ($19.99) and annual ($189.99 – a savings of more than 20% across 12 months).
• Fans signing up now through March 22 can take advantage of a special introductory trial offer – pay $0 for Tigers baseball until April 1, including Opening Day in San Diego. 
• By subscribing to the annual plan now, fans can stack the existing discount and special introductory offer to watch locally televised games for the Tigers (entire 2026 season) and Red Wings (large portion of 2026-27 season) before subscription renewal on April 1, 2027.

The new streaming home for Tigers baseball is the MLB App. Available on a broad portfolio of web, mobile, and connected TV platforms, the MLB App brings easy access to highlights, statistics, and news from across baseball. Details on how to use the year-round subscription to watch 2026-2027 Red Wings games will be shared this summer.

As is customary with new television channels, discussions with cable/satellite distributors are ongoing. Once agreements are finalized, a list of providers carrying Detroit SportsNet and specific channel assignments will be shared.

Detroit Tigers

Led by Jason Benetti and Dan Dickerson on play-by-play, with analysts Andy Dirks and Dan Petry, the Tigers broadcast team is considered among baseball’s best. 

The Tigers saw record-setting viewership during the 2025 season, including increases of 121% in per-game streamers and 101% in per-game household impressions. Only five U.S.-based teams had higher per-game viewership last season, and only two had a higher average rating.

Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings broadcasts will transition to their new home following the highly anticipated conclusion of the 2025-26 season. Until then, Red Wings coverage on FanDuel Sports Network is expected to continue, with no immediate action needed to continue watching games. 

As of the Olympic Break, the Red Wings rank 5th in household rating and tied for 3rd in household viewership among the 25 U.S.-based NHL teams.

Voted as the top NHL broadcast in back-to-back seasons (2024-25, via The Athletic’s annual fan survey), the iconic duo of Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond are expected to continue leading Red Wings telecasts for years to come. 

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