Zach McKinstry delivered the go-ahead run for the Detroit Tigers in the top of the 11th inning on Saturday night in Seattle, driving home a runner from second base with a hit up the middle to give his team a 3-2 lead. The 30-year-old finished the season with a career-high .259 batting average, a .771 OPS, and personal bests in several categories: 23 doubles, 11 triples, 12 home runs, 49 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases. McKinstry's emergence as a standout player is unconventional for his age, but his journey from a 33rd-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016 to All-Star status demonstrates perseverance against slim odds.
The versatile player has become a key figure for the Tigers, and his achievements resonate within the baseball...