‘Get him to Atlanta’: Tigers push for Zach McKinstry’s first All-Star selection

DETROIT — Zach McKinstry knew his throw had a chance.

The Detroit Tiger utility man charged toward a ball struck into right field and began to turn his body as it placed neatly inside his glove.

A spin over his shoulder and the ball popped into his hand and soared toward a waiting Javier Báez.

The wherewithal to go for the play at third base, despite a runner heading home for the Tampa Bay Rays, paid off as the throw reached Báez for a timely tag in a critical moment of the Tigers’ 5-1 win Monday night.

“I’m not sure how many natural outfielders can routinely make that play. That’s an athlete playing a position and using his skillset,“ manager A.J. Hinch said. ”That is feel for the game that doesn’t happen with every outfielder either.”

McKinstry had another standout performance for the Tigers amid something of a breakout season for the 30-year-old out of Central Michigan, with a few defensive highlights and a solo home run late in the game.

As the All-Star break approaches, Hinch’s message is simple: “Let’s get him to Atlanta.”

McKinstry is putting up All-Star level numbers, slashing .285/.355/.464 with seven home runs, eight triples, 12 doubles, 27 RBI and 11 steals.

His defensive prowess is elite and McKinstry’s played six different defensive positions this year — primarily right field and third base.

That’s part of the joy for the former Los Angeles Dodger, getting to impact the game from just about anywhere on the field.

“I love going out there and just being an athlete, doing what I can to help the team,” McKinstry told reporters after the game. “I feel like being able to help the team win from right field, third base; How many guys can say they’ve done that?”

His team certainly benefits from McKinstry’s versatility and the pleasure of seeing more “incredible” plays like Monday night, as catcher Dillon Dingler put it.

Through his incredible production this season — alongside being on one of the best teams in the league — Hinch has been proud of how even-keeled McKinstry remains.

“He’s understated,” Hinch said. “Because he’s playing somewhere different everyday, you can get lost in a little bit of the what he brings to the table. Everything.”

McKinstry’s not necessarily going to hold his breath for the All-Star game.

Even though his flexibility makes him a prime candidate to replace any injured or unavailable players currently on the All-Star roster, the call may not come to send him to Atlanta as a first-timer, alongside the four other Tigers set to compete.

McKinstry already has plans to spend the time off relaxing at a lake in Washington state before he can start aiming for another great stretch of baseball that will confirm what McKinstry and his teammates know — he belongs there.

“Definitely there’s hope, but we’ll see. If not, that’s OK,” McKinstry said. “I’m going to go and have a great second half and prove that I should’ve been there.”