The Detroit Tigers are making strides on defense, and Friday’s 3-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays offered a glimpse of the bounce-back mentality the team is building this season. In the top of the fourth inning, rookie shortstop Kevin McGonigle showed exactly what that mindset looks like—turning a potential misstep into a learning moment.

The play started when Blue Jays right fielder Jesús Sánchez ripped a hard ground ball into the gap between McGonigle and third baseman Gage Workman. It was one of those tricky in-between hops that can rattle even the most seasoned infielders. McGonigle called for the ball but dropped it during the transfer, allowing Sánchez to reach on an infield single.

"I called [Workman] off right away, and we came close to colliding, and I had to get out of his way while I was getting the ball," McGonigle explained after the game. "I'm sure with Gage being where he was, it would have been an easier play for him to get."

That kind of accountability is exactly what the Tigers are looking for as they work to tighten up their defense this season. For a young team still finding its identity, those small adjustments—and the willingness to learn from them—can make all the difference in close games. And with a tight win like this one, every bounce-back play counts.