For the first time in his career, Detroit Tigers utilityman Zach McKinstry will head to the All-Star Game in Atlanta on July 15th. After spending time with the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, and Chicago Cubs, McKinstry has found a home in Detroit since coming over in a trade with the Cubs back in 2023. McKinstry will replace the injured Houston Astros’ shortstop Jeremy Peña, who is currently on the injured list with a fractured rib.
Zach McKinstry Headed to All-Star Game
Career Milestone
It has been a long road for Zach McKinstry, who has consistently battled between Triple-A and MLB for most of his career. The Cubs traded him to the Tigers in 2023 for minor league pitcher Carlos Guzman. Originally considered just a swap for two lower-level prospects, it is now blossoming into a steal of a trade by the Tigers’ front office.
McKinstry has been an underrated piece of the best team in baseball, batting .283 on the season with .357 OBP and .817 OPS. He is currently on pace for 24 doubles, 12 home runs, and 48 RBI, which would smash all of his current career-highs. It is an incredible turnaround from a .277 OBP in 2024 to his current .357 OBP in 2025. A versatile fielder, McKinstry is second on the team in WAR (2.5) and is also in the 93rd percentile in arm strength at 91.5 mph for his average throw.
Given all the injuries and inconsistencies within the lineup, McKinstry has been everything manager A.J. Hinch could ask for and more. His durability has also been key, as he has appeared in 85 of the team’s 94 games, leading the team in batting average and stolen bases (13). The 13 stolen bases not only lead the team, but McKinstry is the only player on the Tigers with double-digit stolen bases.
McKinstry is more than deserving of an honor like this, willing to do whatever it takes on the field to make sure the Tigers have success. Moreover, he has hit everywhere in the lineup, from as low as ninth in the order to as high as hitting third. It is nice to see that McKinstry is getting the national recognition he so clearly deserves.
History in Detroit
With McKinstry headed to the All-Star Game, the Tigers are now sending five players to the Midsummer Classic for the first time since 2013. That also happens to be the last time the Tigers made it to the ALCS. They are now in a prime position to do the same this season. One could make the argument that the Tigers should be sending seven or eight All-Stars, but we need to leave room for the other teams to send their representatives.
Something special is brewing in the air in the Motor City, evident by the amount of talent headed to the All-Star Game. A.J. Hinch and his staff have changed the culture in Detroit. From a team that was consistently at the bottom of the standings, to a team that now has the capabilities of beating anyone who stands in their way. History continues to be made in Detroit, and Zach McKinstry has now become a part of it.
Main Photo Credit: © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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