Zach McKinstry

Zachary McKinstry (born April 29, 1995) is an American professional baseball utility player for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. In 2025, McKinstry was named to his first All-Star game.

Amateur career McKinstry graduated from North Side High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he was a three-time all-conference selection and hit .595 as a junior to be selected to the all-area team. He was rated as the eighth-best prospect in the state of Indiana.

McKinstry played college baseball for the Central Michigan University Chippewas. He was named to the 2015 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American team and in 2016 he was the team co-MVP, while leading the team in batting average, on base percentage and stolen bases. While playing for Waterloo in 2015, he learned that his parents house had burned to the ground in a fire. After beginning his career by playing four games with the Arizona League Dodgers, He hit .261 in 41 games for the Loons In 2017, he played 17 games for Great Lakes, 82 for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and 15 for the Tulsa Drillers. Overall, he had a .239 batting average. He played in only 76 games in 2018, across the same three levels, with a .282 average

McKinstry began 2019 with Tulsa, where he increased his power numbers and was selected to the mid-season all-star team. After hitting .279 with 12 homers and 52 RBI in 95 games for Tulsa

McKinstry was called up to the majors for the first time on August 5, 2020. However, he was optioned the following day without appearing in a game. He was called up again on September 16, where he made his MLB debut as a pinch hitter against the San Diego Padres, striking out in his first at-bat. His first major league hit was a double to left field off of Antonio Senzatela of the Colorado Rockies on September 20. He appeared in four games, with two hits in seven at-bats in 2020. On April 3, 2021, McKinstry hit his first career major league home run, in the top of the eighth inning off of Rockies pitcher Mychal Givens. It was an inside-the-park homer when the ball deflected off the glove of Raimel Tapia as he kept the ball from going over the fence, but thought the ball went over the fence letting McKinstry circle the bases. He appeared in 60 games for Los Angeles, with a .215 batting average, seven homers and 29 RBI. McKinstry appeared in 47 games for the Cubs down the stretch, slashing .207/.272/.361 with 4 home runs, 12 RBI, and 7 stolen bases.

Detroit Tigers On March 27, 2023, McKinstry was traded to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Carlos Guzman. In the 2023 season, McKinstry played in 148 games, hitting .231 with 9 home runs, 35 RBI and 16 stolen bases. He played every defensive position except catcher.

For the 2024 season, McKinstry hit .215 with five home runs, 23 RBI and 16 stolen bases in 118 games.

On November 22, 2024, the Tigers and McKinstry agreed on a one-year, $1.65 million contract for the 2025 season, avoiding arbitration.

On July 9, 2025, McKinstry was selected for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, as a replacement for injured Jeremy Peña. At the All-Star break, he was hitting .285 with 8 home runs, 31 RBI, 15 stolen bases and a 2.7 WAR, while having played six different fielding positions so far in 2025. For the 2025 season, he hit .259 with 12 home runs, 49 RBI and 19 stolen bases.

On January 6, 2026, the Tigers and McKinstry agreed on a one-year, $4.2 million contract, avoiding arbitration.

Personal life McKinstry and his wife, Karra, eloped in Detroit over the 2024 All-Star break.