The Detroit Tigers Super Utility player Zach Mckinstry will be replacing Jeremy Pena and making his debut in the 2025 All-Star Game. He will be joining his five teammates (six including the bat boy) in Atlanta on July 15th. Mckinstry was acquired by the Tigers in a trade with the Chicago Cubs for Carlos Guzman in the Spring of 2023. Prior to this year, he provided limited value at the plate and was mostly useful in the field as a plug-in player off and on. If it wasn’t for Detroit’s lack of stability on the left side of the infield, Mckinstry would have likely been no more than a temporary option bouncing back and fourth between the bigs and the Toledo Mudhens. Despite much of the fanbase being split on his worth to the team, he would go on to play meaningful innings in Postseason play last year.

Fast forward to 2025, in the light of more injuries to the team, he has transformed into nearly an everyday player. He currently bolsters a 3 WAR which is 12th overall in the AL, and 9th amongst position players. Only Riley Greene has clubbed more hits in Detroit this year. He’s tied for second on the team with 82 base knocks along with Gleyber Torres who is also be heading to Atlanta to represent Detroit in the All-Star game.  Mckinstry falls in the 60th percentile of range and outs above average, while splitting time between 6 different positions. Zach has a cannon of an arm, and the agility to comfortably play above average all over the baseball diamond. What’s also made him even more indispensable asset is his impressive slash-line of .338/.354/.598/.949 against southpaws, which is rare as a left-handed hitter. He is a heady player on the base-paths and is one of Detroit’s few threats to swipe a bag. He leads the team in stolen bases and ranks 3rd in all of baseball with 8 triples.

Zach McKinstry deserves to be an All-Star. pic.twitter.com/TTOPAG4tYp

— DataBase Hit (@DatabaseHit) July 8, 2025

The Toledo native, has come a long way from being drafted out of Central Michigan the 33rd round by the LA Dodgers back in 2016. It is likely his versatility and intangible strengths make this fan favorite off limits in this upcoming trade deadline. With that being said, if the right offer comes across his desk, Scott Harris may look to strike while the iron is hot, being that he is already 30 years of age and maxing out his potential. The likelihood of this is still a longs-hot. Although the Tiger’s farm system is getting deeper and deeper they would struggle to find anybody from within, that covers the unique skillset that he possesses.