2025 Stats
AVG
.283
HR
5
RBI
25
R
40
SB
10
Rest-of-Season Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Across five MLB seasons, McKinstry has pretty much settled in as a light-hitting utility player known primarily for his defensive abilities. The 29-year-old batted .286 across a small sample of four games as a rookie with the Dodgers back in 2020, but he's batted .231 or worse in each of his seasons since then. He's also never reached double figures in home runs, as he topped out at nine long balls two years ago with Detroit, when he had a career-best 464 at-bats. McKinstry's value from a real-life perspective comes from his versatility. He appeared at every infield position except for first base last season and also saw time in the corner outfield spots. That makes McKinstry a useful MLB bench player, but it doesn't translate to fantasy impact. Heading into 2025, McKinstry should once again be a utility option who has some flashes of offensive ability but no real consistent value in most fantasy leagues. Read Past Outlooks
Signed a one-year, $1.65 million contract with the Tigers in November of 2024.
Could benefit sans Carpenter
McKinstry will start at third base and bat sixth in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Nationals.
Analysis
Though the Tigers had shown more of a willingness to use Colt Keith at third base of late, McKinstry could end up seeing the bulk of the playing time at the position for the duration of Detroit's first-half schedule. With Kerry Carpenter (hamstring) landing on the injured list Wednesday and likely to be held out through the All-Star break, the Tigers will have openings for Keith at first base or designated hitter, with Spencer Torkelson likely starting at the other spot. McKinstry should thus have a clear path to steady playing time at third base in the short term, though the utility player had already been included in the Detroit lineup in five of the previous six contests. McKinstry's production had been tailing off in the second half of May, but he sported a hot bat throughout June, finishing the month with a .321/.353/.538 slash line to go with two home runs and seven stolen bases in 24 games.
Though the Tigers had shown more of a willingness to use Colt Keith at third base of late, McKinstry could end up seeing the bulk of the playing time at the position for the duration of Detroit's first-half schedule. With Kerry Carpenter (hamstring) landing on the injured list Wednesday and likely to be held out through the All-Star break, the Tigers will have openings for Keith at first base or designated hitter, with Spencer Torkelson likely starting at the other spot. McKinstry should thus have a clear path to steady playing time at third base in the short term, though the utility player had already been included in the Detroit lineup in five of the previous six contests. McKinstry's production had been tailing off in the second half of May, but he sported a hot bat throughout June, finishing the month with a .321/.353/.538 slash line to go with two home runs and seven stolen bases in 24 games.
Batting Stats
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2025 MLB Game Log
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Minor League Game Log
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Batting Order Slot Breakdown
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
4
4
12
18
7
4
1
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
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1
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7
Left/Right Batting Splits
Since 2023
+16%
OPS vs LHP
2025
+37%
OPS vs LHP
| OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2023vs Left | .771 | 154 | 1 | 17 | .277 | ||||
| Since 2023vs Right | .666 | 976 | 17 | 66 | .233 | ||||
| 2025vs Left | 1.002 | 75 | 1 | 10 | .357 | ||||
| 2025vs Right | .732 | 212 | 4 | 15 | .254 | ||||
| 2024vs Left | .379 | 33 | 0 | 4 | .133 | ||||
| 2024vs Right | .640 | 292 | 4 | 19 | .225 | ||||
| 2023vs Left | .653 | 46 | 0 | 3 | .243 | ||||
| 2023vs Right | .653 | 472 | 9 | 32 | .230 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
| Minor League Splits→ | View Minor League Split Stats | ||||||||
Home/Away Batting Splits
Since 2023
+28%
OPS at Home
2025
+53%
OPS at Home
| OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2023Home | .765 | 568 | 11 | 50 | .267 | ||||
| Since 2023Away | .596 | 562 | 7 | 33 | .211 | ||||
| 2025Home | .970 | 149 | 4 | 17 | .341 | ||||
| 2025Away | .633 | 138 | 1 | 8 | .221 | ||||
| 2024Home | .647 | 156 | 1 | 9 | .234 | ||||
| 2024Away | .582 | 169 | 3 | 14 | .197 | ||||
| 2023Home | .722 | 263 | 6 | 24 | .247 | ||||
| 2023Away | .585 | 255 | 3 | 11 | .215 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Stat Review
How does Zach McKinstry compare to other hitters?
This section compares his stats with all batting seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 400 plate appearances)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
BB/K
0.45BB Rate
10.1%K Rate
22.6%BABIP
.357ISO
.167AVG
.283OBP
.357SLG
.450OPS
.807wOBA
.351Exit Velocity
86.1 mphHard Hit Rate
24.1%Barrels/PA
4.5%Expected BA
.265Expected SLG
.373Sprint Speed
24.2 ft/secGround Ball %
37.4%Line Drive %
30.5%Fly Ball %
32.1%Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Batting Stats
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Additional Stats
Games By Position
Defensive Stats
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Batted Ball Stats
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Stats Vs Upcoming Pitchers
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2021
2020
McKinstry saw his most consistent MLB playing time yet in 2023, though he remained a limited offensive player. The 28-year-old batted just .231 with a .653 OPS across 148 games. He didn't provide much in the way of counting stats either with only nine home runs, 35 RBI and 60 runs scored, though at least he managed 16 stolen bases in 22 attempts. McKinstry's best attribute remained his versatility, as he appeared at every defensive position except for catcher and first base in his first season with the Tigers. At this point in his career, McKinstry profiles as a prototypical utility player who can provide solid defense across the diamond but doesn't offer much at the plate. That makes him a more valuable real-life player than fantasy asset, so managers don't need to have McKinstry on the radar outside of deeper formats. He can at least be a bargain bin dart throw for DFS players.
More Fantasy News
Big day against Minny
McKinstry went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Saturday's 10-5 win over the Twins.
Analysis
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Big effort in easy win
McKinstry went 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, a run scored and two RBI in Thursday's 8-0 win over the Athletics. He also stole a base, though he was caught stealing once as well.
Analysis
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Losing work at hot corner
McKinstry is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Analysis
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Not starting Saturday
McKinstry isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Reds.
Analysis
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Tallies two hits, steal in win
McKinstry went 2-for-4 with a run scored in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Orioles. He also stole a base.
Analysis
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Clearer path to roster spot
Evan Woodbery of MLive.com expected McKinstry to make Detroit's Opening Day roster in the wake of Matt Vierling's strained rotator cuff muscle.
Analysis
McKinstry and the Tigers avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.65 million contract in November, but the utility player wasn't a sure thing to make the season-opening roster. That may have changed with Vierling set to begin the year on the IL, and Parker Meadows also dealing with a bicep issue. The 29-year-old McKinstry saw action in 118 regular-season games last year and had a .614 OPS with four homers and 16 steals.
McKinstry and the Tigers avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.65 million contract in November, but the utility player wasn't a sure thing to make the season-opening roster. That may have changed with Vierling set to begin the year on the IL, and Parker Meadows also dealing with a bicep issue. The 29-year-old McKinstry saw action in 118 regular-season games last year and had a .614 OPS with four homers and 16 steals.