Kevin McGonigle (Image Credits: Imagn)

Padres Outfielder Shares Playful Banter With Kevin McGonigle After Robbing Tigers Rookie Of First MLB Home Run

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports
By Paranjoy Goswami | Last updated Mar 29, 2026 9:13 AM ET

Even though he did not have a particularly strong 2025 season, San Diego Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill is still one of the best young players in the MLB. Detroit Tigers rookie Kevin McGonigle is set to join him in that category this year. Merrill and McGonigle shared some playful banter between themselves in Game 2 of the series between the Padres and Tigers at Petco Park.

Kevin McGonigle enjoyed a scintillating MLB debut on Thursday. He went 4-5 with a couple of RBIs to help the Detroit Tigers open the 2026 season with an 8-2 win over the San Diego Padres. However, Jackson Merrill robbed him of his first major league home run the following evening. Merrill ran about 20 yards to grab a towering fly ball from McGonigle over the center field wall.

Just a few minutes later in the game, Merrill reached second base safely in the bottom of the second inning. McGonigle was fielding at third base at the time. The Tigers infielder used it as an opportunity to congratulate Merrill for his outstanding catch. In response, the Padres slugger playfully teased McGonigle for robbing him of his maiden big league home run.

"You got four yesterday!"

Jackson Merrill didn't want Kevin McGonigle to get too greedy after his 4-hit MLB debut pic.twitter.com/30HsZ8xRq8
— MLB (@MLB) March 28, 2026

“Thank you. Appreciate it,” Merrill courteously accepted the praise from Kevin McGonigle before firing back his cheeky reply. “You got four yesterday.”

The Tigers produced four runs in the eighth inning of Game 2 to pull off a 5-2 comeback win on the night to seal the series against the Padres. McGonigle came up with the decisive hit, hitting a two-RBI single to put his team into the lead.

Kevin McGonigle & Jackson Merrill Talk About Their Friendly Banter

Jackson Merrill and Kevin McGonigle spoke to the media after their little interaction on the field in Game 2 of the series between the San Diego Padres and the Detroit Tigers. Both carried on their playful banter off the field.

Jacson Merrill (Image Credits: Imagn)

“We were joking about it out there,” McGonigle said. “I looked over, and he said, ‘My bad, my bad.’ I said, ‘Come on, at least let the first one go out.’ But that was an unbelievable catch. [He’s a] great player.”

“Kid’s first homer,” Merrill joked. “Sorry to Kev. I understand first homers are sick.”

Kevin McGonigle is a former first-round pick for the Tigers in 2023. He is ranked as the No. 2 prospect overall this season by MLB Pipeline.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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