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Delcos Kevin McGonigle, Detroit rookie, returns home as youngest MLB All-Star Detroit Tigers rookie and Delaware County native Kevin McGonigle will represent the Tigers as the youngest major league All-Star at 21, returning to Philadelphia for the MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park.
Kevin McGonigle, a 21-year-old rookie from Delaware County, will represent the Detroit Tigers at the MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia next week.
McGonigle is the youngest major league All-Star this year and will play at Citizens Bank Park in front of his family.
Kevin McGonigle, a rookie infielder for the Detroit Tigers and Delaware County native, is set to represent his team at the MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park next week, according to his family and FOX 29s Jeff Skversky.
For Kevin McGonigle, the dream began in the backyard of his childhood home in Aldan, a small town in Delaware County.The 21-year-old Detroit Tigers rookie infielder, a Bonner-Prendergast graduate and lifelong Phillies fan, is heading home as the youngest player selected to the 2026 MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park.
Just three years after being drafted by Detroit, McGonigle has become one of baseballs brightest young stars a moment his parents say still feels surreal."When he called me that night, I was sobbing," his mother, Tracy McGonigle, told Jeff Skversky at his childhood home.
"He said, Mom, what are you doing? I told him, When you were a little boy..." Inside his mom's Aldan home, baseball memories fill every room, including a photo of an 11-year-old Kevin posing with former Phillies ace Cole Hamels.
Now, instead of watching the All-Star Game from the stands, McGonigle will be taking the field in Philadelphia."He called me today and said my entire familyall my siblingsI got my mom and my mother Chris up in heaven, and Ill be there too," his father Kevin said.
"Were all going.
Its going to be really special.
He grew up a die-hard Phillies fan." When Tracy watched the video of her son learning he had made the All-Star team, the emotions returned.
She says she got a few text messages from her son Kevin after another captured just how much the moment meant."He said, Im coming to Philly, Mom.
I made it.
Then the next text was, Wow.
Then, I cant believe it..
in Philly."McGonigle plans to return to the house where his baseball journey started, and he even told his mother hell be sleeping in his childhood bedroom during All-Star week.
His father, who coached Kevin throughout his youth baseball career, always believed in his sons work ethiceven if he didnt expect success to come this quickly."I didnt see it happening this quick," he said.
"This kids got drive like no other.
He worked hard as heck." Despite reaching baseballs biggest stage, McGonigle says he hasnt forgotten the sacrifices his parents made to help him get there.
"I dreamed about this growing up," McGonigle said.
"Im so happy to share this moment with them.
All the time you spent, all the money you spent to get me to this pointit means a lot.Love you guys.""I just lost it the moment I saw him," she said.
"Tears of joy.
He says, Mom, you have to stop crying all the time.
But happy tears are good tears."The rookie plans to purchase 35 tickets so family and friends can watch him play in next Tuesdays MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Parkthe same city where his baseball dream first began.