Tigers' Kevin McGonigle is biggest riser among MLB's top prospects

For all the buzz about Max Clark, there's another Tigers prospect in Lakeland -- and another member of the 2023 draft class -- who's playing even better: Kevin McGonigle.

McGonigle made the biggest jump in MLB Pipeline's midseason rankings of the top 100 prospects in baseball, up 31 spots to No. 65 overall. The second-round pick is hitting .326 with an .879 OPS, tops in the Class-A Florida State League. He also has the lowest strikeout rate in the league and the best walk-to-strikeout ratio.

"McGonigle very rarely misses on swings in the zone, backing up the belief that he’ll be a plus hitter at every stop," per MLB.com. "His power has played better than expected as a 19-year-old at Single-A, prompting this jump up (the rankings)."

In the field, McGonigle has played primarily shortstop in his two seasons in the Tigers' system, also getting time at second. He's built more like a second baseman at 5'10, but "considering the state of the position in the Tigers' farm system, McGonigle could be a godsend if he can stay at shortstop, whether he hits for power or not," per MLB Pipeline.

"Even if he moves to second, he has the skill set and offensive potential to hold down the position for a while."

Shortstop has been a problem for the Tigers for the better part of a decade, exacerbated by the disastrous singing of Javier Baez -- who still has three years and $73 remaining on his contract after this season. They don't have a clear solution anywhere in the pipeline, which makes McGonigle's growth over the next few seasons all the more important.

While he's still at least three years away from making an impact in Detroit, he's already making noise in the organization.

Clark, meanwhile, is up to No. 10 among MLB Pipeline's top prospects, one spot ahead of another third overall pick by the Tigers: Jackson Jobe. The 19-year-old outfielder, billed as a potential five-tool star, will represent Detroit at the All-Star Futures Game later this month.