Kevin McGonigle sat countless times as a fan in Citizens Bank Park but he still wasn’t sure how the crowd would react Tuesday night when he was introduced before the All Star Game. He grew up in Delaware County, starred at Bonner-Prendergast, modeled his game after Chase Utley, and was in the stands for Red October.
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But he’s a rookie for the Detroit Tigers. McGonigle worried his own people — the Phillies fans he used to cheer with — would boo him.
It was instead a roar as the 21-year-old who grew up just 10 miles from the ballpark was treated like a returning hero. It was the perfect cap to a few days that McGonigle said were unbelievable: he slept in his childhood bed, made his parents cry, finally met Utley, and was an All-Star in the ballpark where he used to dream.
McGonigle had “Detroit” across his chest but he was at home.
“The kid’s a hometown kid and it’s a shame Philly didn’t figure it out,” McGonigle’s father, Kevin, said during the game as the Phillies could have drafted the infielder in 2023. “But that’s the reason it was so loud here. This kid is a winner and he’s always going to be a winner. For him to be here right now in the All-Star Game is beyond my wildest dreams. I never saw it happening this soon. It’s pretty amazing.”
McGonigle received a text message a few days ago from a number he didn’t know. It was Utley. He congratulated McGonigle for making the American League team and said he would look for him in Philly. McGonigle has never been shy about his admiration for Utley and NBC10 had Utley record a video for McGonigle in 2023 before he was drafted. But the two never met.
McGonigle was on the field for batting practice on Tuesday afternoon when someone told him that Utley was looking for him. McGonigle stopped what he was doing and looked for his idol. The All-Star became a fan again.
DO meet your idols 🤩
Kevin McGonigle meets Phillies legend and his favorite player growing up, Chase Utley. pic.twitter.com/spe3HJ6V0U— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) July 14, 2026
“Right when I saw him, I was like ‘Thank you for everything you’ve done,’” McGonigle said. “Then I stepped back and I was like ‘Maybe I should act more professional. I’m in the major leagues now.’ But I think that’s the best thing about this game. It’s a kid’s game. The way I played it as a kid and the work I put in as a kid got me to where I am today. I want to keep acting that way. It’s a kid’s game.”
Utley told McGonigle that there was nothing to thank him for. All the credit belonged to McGonigle. The Tigers infielder — who had an Utley poster as a kid in his bedroom — wasn’t thanking Utley for helping him with his swing or with his defense. He thanked him for being an inspiration every time he watched the Phils on TV or sat in those blue seats.
“It’s just the way he played the game,” McGonigle said. “It was the way he hustled on and off the field. The way he never took any pitches off. Of course, his swing is great and his defense. But it’s really just the way he went out and competed. I just wanted to thank him for helping me get to where I am today.”
McGonigle ended the conversation by asking his favorite player for a photo. All-Stars are fans, too.
“I want to meet Utley next,” McGonigle’s father said.
The path to Tuesday’s game can be traced to a $5,000 investment his father made years ago when he purchased a JUGS pitching machine off the internet.
“And I got a Honda Whisper generator,” McGonigle said as he motioned his arm like was pulling the motor again.
The McGonigles spent countless hours in their backyard building a swing that helped make the Delco kid a rookie sensation. He signed a $150 million contract three weeks into the season and entered the All-Star break with an .812 OPS. He’s the favorite to be the AL Rookie of the Year and could haunt the Phillies for not drafting him as the player they drafted — Aidan Miller — has not played this season due to a back injury.
McGonigle looks like a star. So, was that JUGGS machine the best investment his dad ever made?
“No doubt in my mind,” the father said. “The kid learned to spoil a pitch at a very young age. He’s pretty good at it.”
McGonigle had patches representing Bonner-Prendergast and Delco sewn into the inside of the suit jacket he wore to the ballpark on Tuesday. He’s proud, McGonigle said, to be from Delco. He arrived home on Sunday night and hung out with his neighborhood buddies. McGonigle could have stayed with the All-Stars in a Center City hotel but he opted to eat his mom’s cooking and sleep in his bedroom that still has a Cole Hamels poster on the wall.
“[My] younger self would be super proud,” McGonigle said. “This is all I ever dreamed of.”
His mom Tracy cried, McGonigle said, when he was named an All Star. And his dad was verklempt after he watched his son enter the game on Tuesday night.
“This is a real blur for me,” McGonigle’s dad said. “But this kid has what it takes. We’ll probably see this a few more times before he’s done.”
The public address announcer used the standard intro for most players before the game: “From the San Diego Padres, pitcher Mason Miller.” McGonigle received a special touch: “From the Detroit Tigers, from Delco, shortstop Kevin McGonigle.”
McGonigle had plenty of friends and family in the stands but this roar was louder than the pack of 36 family and friends McGonigle brought from Delco. It sounded like the whole ballpark. Boos? No chance. Philly fans knew that one of them was on the field.
“It was chills, man,” McGonigle said. “Hearing the stadium get loud like that. Just having the support of the fans here today was unbelievable. I can’t thank them enough.”
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