Opening Day always brings a wave of optimism, but few debuts have matched the electricity of Kevin McGonigle’s first game in Detroit. The 21-year-old wasted no time announcing himself, ripping the very first pitch he saw down the line for a double, then following it with another rocket off the wall. Not content to just swing the bat, McGonigle showed off his speed as well, beating out a slow roller for an infield single in his next trip. By the end of the day, he’d gone 4-for-5, turning a routine opener in San Diego into a full-blown arrival — the kind that makes fans believe they might be watching the start of something special.
*** Now chatting in #OpeningDayShock ***
*** ProfessorMcGonigle has entered the chat ***
ProfessorMcGonigle: hey guys
first mlb at-bat
no big deal
*** CRACK ***
DanTheManDickerson: FIRST PITCH — LINED DOWN THE LINE!
EXTRA BASES FOR THE KID!
WELCOME TO THE BIG LEAGUES, KEVIN MCGONIGLE!
ProfessorMcGonigle: ok that felt good
i will do it again
*** PForPivetta has entered the chat ***
PForPivetta: ok, time to adjust
throw him something different
surely he won’t—
*** CRACK ***
ProfessorMcGonigle: second double
wall says hello
DanTheManDickerson: OFF THE WALL AGAIN!
THIS KID IS PUTTING ON A CLINIC!
PForPivetta: ok what is happening
is he allowed to do this on opening day
*** pr0FF3ss0r_F4rnsw0rth has entered the chat ***
pr0FF3ss0r_F4rnsw0rth: YES
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LET THE YOUTH RUN FREE
NO FEAR. ONLY SWING.
*** WORDUPTHOME has entered the chat ***
WORDUPTHOME: HEY GUYS THIS IS JI
JIM THOME
THIS KID IS KNOCKING ON THE DOOR
AND THEN KICKING IT OFF THE HINGES
OLD JIMBO LOVES A HOT START
*** Next at-bat ***
ProfessorMcGonigle: alright maybe something a little different this time
/slow roller
i run now
PForPivetta: THROW HIM OUT
THROW HIM OUT
aww
DanTheManDickerson: HE BEATS IT OUT!
AN INFIELD HIT!
HE DOES EVERYTHING!
pr0FF3ss0r_F4rnsw0rth: speed AND contact
pick one kid this is getting unreasonable
ProfessorMcGonigle: 4 for 5
i think i like it here
*** TorkAndRoll has entered the chat ***
TorkAndRoll: we have seen the future
and it runs out ground balls
*** MLB_NewsBot has entered the chat ***
MLB_NewsBot: FINAL: Tigers win.
Kevin McGonigle (21) goes 4-for-5 in MLB debut (2 doubles, infield single).
League officially on notice.
*** PForPivetta has left to reconsider life choices ***
*** pr0FF3ss0r_F4rnsw0rth has left to recruit the rookie immediately ***
*** WORDUPTHOME has left to write “THE KID CAN RAKE” in all caps forever ***
*** ProfessorMcGonigle has left to casually ruin more pitching tomorrow ***