Room for 1 more: Detroit Tigers’ Zach McKinstry named to American League All-Star Game as replacement

DETROIT – Major League Baseball has rewarded the red-hot Detroit Tigers by adding another player to the American League All-Star Game roster, as utility player Zach McKinstry has been named as a replacement.

McKinstry and the crowd inside Comerica Park during the series finale vs. the Tampa Bay Rays learned of the news on Wednesday (July 9), which drew an encore as he clapped his hand on the steps of the Tigers’ dugout.

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña, according to MLB on X, will be replaced by McKinstry.

Thanks to the fan vote, McKinstry will join Tarik Skubal and starters Gleyber Torres, Riley Greene, Javier Báez, and bat boy Frankie Boyd are all heading to Atlanta.

McKinstry is in his sixth season, his third with the Tigers, of playing baseball at the highest level.

Of the five players heading to the Midsummer Classic, McKinstry will be suiting up as an All-Star for the first time in his career.

Hailing from Central Michigan University, came into the Wednesday game raking .283 with 27 RBI and an on-base plus slugging percentage of .817 while blasting seven homeruns prior to Game 3 of the Rays’ homestand.

McKinstry has a career batting average of .300 with eight triples on the season, accumulating 315 plate appearances across 84 games during the 2025 season.

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