New Headline: McGonigle Ramps Up for Red Sox Clash!
Tigers top prospect Kevin McGonigle is getting a live lesson in how Major League pitchers will exploit a perceived weakness.
Dunedin, Fla. — Tigers top prospect Kevin McGonigle drew two walks Saturday and made a couple of superb defensive plays at third base against the Toronto Blue Jays. But he’s also getting a live lesson in how Major League pitchers will exploit a perceived weakness.
He’s seen very few fastballs over the last week or so, and almost none for strikes. Instead, pitchers are feeding him a steady diet of spin and off-speed. Jays starter and former Tiger Max Scherzer punched him out on three pitches in the first inning, the last two were nasty curveballs.
“It’s getting close to the in-season style where there’s not a lot of free pitches,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said. “Starters are going five and six innings. Scouting reports are starting to be paved.
Young hitters are going to see a complete change. "When you homer on the big stage in the Dominican against Luis Severino , I’m sure pitchers in the Grapefruit League are watching. ” McGonigle has one hit in his last 13 at-bats.