Spectacular start! Kevin McGonigle, Tarik Skubal star as Tigers romp

Chris McCosky, The Detroit News on Mar 26, 2026

Published in Baseball

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SAN DIEGO — If AJ Hinch could’ve drawn it up, the season-opener might’ve looked something like this.

The Tigers enjoyed an 8-2 romp over the San Diego Padres on a sun-drenched Thursday before 45,673 patrons at Petco Park, in a game that his ace lefty Tarik Skubal dominated and Kevin McGonigle, his prized rookie, checked off a lot of firsts in his big-league debut.

McGonigle slapped a double to right-field on the first pitch he saw in the big leagues, knocking in two runs in a four-run first inning. First at-bat, check. First hit, check. First extra-base hit, check. First RBI, check.

He lashed a double in his second at-bat, too. First multi-hit game, check.

This one capped an impressive six-pitch at-bat against Padres veteran right-hander Nick Pivetta. McGonigle fought out of an 0-2 hole, took a curveball, fouled off a curveball and then barreled a 92-mph fastball. The ball left his bat at 105.9 mph and hit off the right-field wall, missing a home run by a couple of feet.

For good measure, he tested and beat the elite throwing arm of right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr., to earn the hustle double.

McGonigle rolled an infield single in his third at-bat, become the first Tigers to notch three hits in his big-league debut since Shannon Penn back on April 28, 1995.

Then in ninth, against lefty Wandy Peralta, he spanked another pull-side single, becoming the first Tigers player to collect four hits in his big-league debut since Billy Bean did it in 1987.

Magical stuff.

McGonigle also fielded his five chances at third base without issue. He made an excellent play in the seventh, ranging far to his left to cutoff a slow roller and throwing out Jake Cronenworth on a close play.

The offense, which included a two-run, 403-foot blast by catcher Dillon Dingler, gave Skubal a luxurious cushion he didn’t really need, but given his bustling offseason, it was nice to have just the same.

“This guy has had as public of a life as anyone in baseball,” Hinch said before the game. “I’m looking forward to just him pitching. Just having a day where he can prepare, go out against an opponent and get after it the way he loves to do.”

Skubal was in the public glare all winter, from winning his second straight Cy Young award, to his high-profile arbitration case to his polarizing one-and-done outing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

“He handled all of that with great class and transparency,” Hinch said. “He should be complimented for that. There is nothing he does now that doesn’t get a reaction out of fans, out of the media, out of everybody around him.

“The best thing he can do is pitch.”

He pitched extremely well Thursday, mostly breezing through six innings. At one point, after a couple of first-inning singles, he retired 15 straight hitters before an errant throw by shortstop Javier Baez ended the streak.

Xander Bogaerts doubled down the line at third to score the only run Skubal allowed, albeit unearned.

He struck out six with no walks and had his changeup dancing – nine whiffs on 11 swings.

Skubal, now 29-1 in his career when he gets at least six runs of support, has been anxious to put all the offseason chatter behind him.

“None of that matters now,” he said. “Things I do are going to be decently public. It’s just part of the gig. But none of that stuff has ever impacted my ability to focus on the things I need to do.”

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