Detroit Tigers’ utility player Zach McKinstry was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers and played three years with the Dodgers and Chicago Cubs before the Tigers signed him.
But, before any of that, McKinstry was a standout at Central Michigan University. On Friday night, the Tigers had their 21st annual CMU night at Comerica Park, and the Chippewa alum made it something special.
On the night the Tigers’ were celebrating his university, McKinstry nearly hit for the cycle, leading the Tigers to a 7-5 comeback win against the Kansas City Royals.
McKinstry has a special game for CMU night
The Tigers’ utility player started the night by having his walkup song for his first at-bat feature the CMU fight song, “What If,” by Creed.
“I texted Carlos [Guillen, Tigers broadcaster and manager of Spanish communications] to make sure that they did that for the first at-bat, and then go back to the walkup song in the next one,” McKinstry said (h/t MLB.com). “I think it’s cool just to get it going one time, just kinda giving back there, just letting the people know that I’m a Chippewa.”
McKinstry let everyone know he was a Chippewa and then put on a show for the home crowd.
The 30-year-old got the Tigers on the board with a solo home run in the third inning and followed that with a triple in the fifth inning.
Heck of a game for Zach McKinstry on @CMUniversity night!
Going to fall a 2B short of the cycle.
Jakob Marsee. Zach McKinstry. One of these gents will cycle soon enough.
What a fun ride it’s been watching the two @CMUBaseball alums dominate in the MLB. #FireUpChips
— Adam Jaksa (@AdamJaksa) August 23, 2025
The McKinstry led off the seventh inning with a single that started a four-run rally to give the Tigers the lead. With a home run, triple and single in his first three at-bats, the CMU alum was a double away from the cycle when he came to the plate in the eighth inning.
McKinstry flew out to center field and fell short of the rare feat. However, that didn’t damper the incredible night he had as many of his fellow Chippewa’s were in the stands watching.
“It was an exciting night,” McKinstry said after the Tigers’ 7-5 win in Friday’s game (h/t Detroit Free Press). “I’m thankful to go out there and be able to show up for the party on ‘CMU Night.’ It was pretty cool.”
