Tigers predicted to move on from former first-round draft pick in offseason trade

Tigers predicted to move on from former first-round draft pick in offseason trade originally appeared on The Sporting News

With the update to the MLB Pipeline prospect rankings, Detroit Tigers fans should be ecstatic. Kevin McGonigle, the club's 37th overall pick in the 2023 Major League Baseball draft, is currently the second-best prospect in all of baseball, right behind Pittsburgh Pirates' prospect Konnor Griffin. 

McGonigle is currently in Double-A, but given his recent progress, he could be on Detroit's Opening Day roster next season. This would be the perfect time for the club to look back at some of the prospects who have been struggling, such as former 2022 first-round draft pick Jace Jung. 

During this year alone, Jung is hitting just 5-for-45 with a .554 career OPS. While limited in his opportunities, this is not the production the front office thought they would get from this feared slugger. With his offensive struggles, Colin Keane of the Motor City Bengals predicts the two will part ways during an offseason trade.

With this year's Tigers obviously in win-now mode, Jung's development isn't a huge priority, and he's in danger of being usurped in the organization's pecking order by younger, rising prospects like McGonigle, [Hao-Yu] Lee, and Bryce Rainer." 

Keane points to the club's position to win the American League Central and make another postseason push. With Jung's potential still high, he could provide some good value during the winter months on a team looking to add more value to their farm system. This will be a situation that fans will want to keep their eyes on when the 2025 season comes to a close.