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McKinstry agreed to a one-year, $4.2 million contract with the Tigers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
McKinstry took a massive step forward at the plate in 2025, finishing the year with a .259/.333/.438 slash line alongside 12 homers, 49 RBI, 68 runs scored and 19 stolen bases across 511 regular-season plate appearances. He doesn't seem to have a clear path to playing time at any one position in 2026, though he should still be able to crack the starting nine with some regularity thanks to his defensive versatility.
Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Goes deep off bench Saturday
Rotowire
McKinstry went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Saturday's 6-5 loss to Atlanta.
The veteran utility player appeared as a pinch hitter for Andy Ibanez in the sixth inning and promptly launched his 12th home run of the season. McKinstry has been a surprising source of offense all year, as the 12 long balls are already a new career high, as are his 49 RBI. McKinstry is also sporting a .769 OPS through 138 games, which is well ahead of his career .679 mark.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Back in starting nine
Rotowire
McKinstry (back) will start at third base and bat eighth in Friday's game against the Marlins.
McKinstry missed each of the previous three contests with a back issue, but he's ready to give it a go in Friday's series opener. With McKinstry handling third base, Colt Keith will be used in the designated-hitter slot.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Sitting again Thursday
Rotowire
McKinstry (back) isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees.
McKinstry will miss a third consecutive start due to a back issue that flared up shortly before Tuesday's contest. Javier Baez will pick up a start at shortstop and bat ninth while McKinstry recovers.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Out Wednesday with back issue
Rotowire
McKinstry (back) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
McKinstry is day-to-day will back stiffness, which resulted in him being scratched from the lineup ahead of Tuesday's 12-2 win. He'll remain on the bench Wednesday, though even if fully healthy, the left-handed-hitting utility player might have sat anyway with southpaw Carlos Rodon on the bump for New York.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Battling back stiffness
Rotowire
McKinstry was scratched from the lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Yankees due to upper-back stiffness.
McKinstry lost what had been a six-game hitting streak during Sunday's contest, and his back will now force him to the bench for Tuesday's series opener. While he recovers, Trey Sweeney will start at shortstop and bat ninth.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Drives in two in loss
Rotowire
McKinstry went 2-for-3 with a walk, a triple, a run scored and two RBI in Monday's 10-8 loss to the Mets.
McKinstry continued his nice stretch at the plate, as he's now batting .323 over his last 10 games with a home run, five RBI and six runs scored. Monday's triple was the utility player's 11th of the season, which is seven more than anyone else on the team. On the year, McKinstry is now sporting a .789 OPS, which would be a new career best.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Idle Saturday
Rotowire
McKinstry isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Royals.
McKinstry will sit down Saturday after making seven consecutive starts, going 7-for-24 with a homer, three RBI and four runs scored in the process. Trey Sweeney will take his place at shortstop and bat eighth.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Reaches three times in loss
Rotowire
McKinstry went 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI in Tuesday's 7-6 extra-inning loss to the Athletics.
McKinstry has been on a nice run lately, as he's batting .323 over his last 10 games with a home run, two stolen bases, four RBI and five runs scored. The veteran utility player has had a strong year overall, slashing .265/.342/.448 across 120 contests. It's been a big offensive jump for McKinstry, who has a career slash line of just .232/.300/.381 in six MLB seasons.
