Zach McKinstry is set to make his first career All-Star appearance on July 15 in Atlanta. The versatile Detroit Tigers utility player, who previously spent time with the Dodgers, Yankees, and Cubs, has settled into a steady role in Detroit since being acquired in a 2023 trade with Chicago. He’ll step in as an injury replacement for Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña, who is sidelined with a fractured rib.
Zach McKinstry Headed to All-Star Game
Career Milestone
Zach McKinstry’s path to the All-Star Game has been anything but easy. A frequent traveler between Triple-A and the majors for much of his career, McKinstry was traded from the Cubs to the Tigers in 2023 in exchange for minor league pitcher Carlos Guzman. At the time, it looked like a minor swap of low-level prospects—but it’s quickly proving to be a major win for Detroit.
Now an unsung hero on the best team in baseball, McKinstry is hitting .283 with a .357 on-base percentage and an .817 OPS. He’s on pace to set career-highs across the board, with projected totals of 24 doubles, 12 home runs, and 48 RBI. His turnaround from a .277 OBP in 2024 to his current mark is remarkable. A defensive asset as well, McKinstry ranks second on the team in WAR (2.5) and is among the league’s best in arm strength, averaging 91.5 mph per throw—good for the 93rd percentile.
With injuries and inconsistency plaguing the Tigers’ lineup, McKinstry has been a stabilizing force for manager A.J. Hinch. He’s appeared in 85 of the team’s 94 games, leading Detroit in both batting average and stolen bases (13). In fact, he’s the only Tiger with double-digit steals.
McKinstry has done it all—playing multiple positions, hitting everywhere from the bottom to the top of the order, and constantly delivering when called upon. His All-Star selection is a well-earned acknowledgment of the impact he’s had on Detroit’s success.
History in Detroit
With Zach McKinstry joining the All-Star roster, the Tigers will now send five players to the Midsummer Classic—marking the first time they’ve had that many representatives since 2013, the same year they last reached the ALCS. This year’s squad looks poised to make another deep postseason run, and some would argue that Detroit could’ve easily had seven or eight All-Stars selected. But of course, every team needs a share of the spotlight.
There’s no denying that something special is happening in the Motor City. The sheer talent heading to the All-Star Game is a testament to the Tigers’ resurgence. Under A.J. Hinch, the culture in Detroit has undergone a complete transformation—from a franchise that routinely sat near the bottom of the standings to one that can now compete with anyone in baseball.
The Tigers are rewriting their story, and Zach McKinstry has earned his place in it. His All-Star nod is not just a personal milestone, but also another symbol of Detroit’s return to prominence.
