SAN DIEGO (AP) — Kevin McGonigle got four hits and drove in two runs in his auspicious major league debut during the Detroit Tigers' 8-2 victory over the San Diego Padres on Thursday.

The 21-year-old McGonigle hit a two-run double with the bases loaded on the first big league pitch he saw in the first inning. He had a second double and an infield single while scoring two runs in his next two at-bats, and added a single in the ninth.

McGonigle finished 4 for 5 while batting sixth and playing third base. After just 46 games last season in Double-A, the multi-position infielder made Detroit’s major league roster with an undeniably strong spring, skipping Triple-A entirely.

Two-time AL Cy Young award winner Tarik Skubal (1-0) pitched six innings of three-hit ball with six strikeouts in his third straight opening day start for Detroit, allowing only an unearned run.

Dillon Dingler homered and drove in three runs while Detroit jumped to an 8-0 lead in the fifth inning and cruised to its 12th win on opening day in the last 15 seasons.

Xander Bogaerts hit an RBI double off Skubal in the sixth inning of a rough opener for rookie manager Craig Stammen and the Padres, who are coming off only the second back-to-back playoff appearances in franchise history. Stammen, the former Padres reliever, replaced Mike Shildt.

Nick Pivetta (0-1) lasted just three innings in his first career opening day start, struggling through a 33-pitch first inning and getting the hook after yielding six runs on seven hits and three walks.

Spencer Torkelson drew a bases-loaded walk from Pivetta right before McGonigle's first-pitch double.

McGonigle then lined a 105.9-mph double off the right-field wall in the third, barely beating Fernando Tatis Jr.'s throw to second. He scored his first big league run moments later on Parker Meadows' single.

Ramón Laureano homered in the seventh for San Diego. Nick Castellanos flied out to center with the bases loaded to end the eighth in his Padres debut.

Up next

Longtime Astros ace Framber Valdez (13-11, 3.66 ERA) debuts for the Tigers on Friday after signing a $115 million free-agent deal last month. The Padres send out Michael King (5-3, 3.44 ERA), who re-signed on a $75 million deal after a solid but injury-plagued 2025.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Right-hander Yu Darvish began the season on the Padres' restricted list while he recovers from elbow surgery, which means he won't be getting paid immediately by San Diego.

Darvish was placed on the restricted list instead of the injured list as the Padres got down to the 26-player active limit Wednesday. The 39-year-old Japanese star won't pitch this season after elbow ligament repair surgery late last year, but he also hasn't retired.

Darvish is owed $43 million for the final three seasons of a $108 million, six-year contract: $15 million in 2026 and $14 million each in 2027 and 2028.

The surprising move by Darvish and the Padres could clear budgetary room for San Diego to pursue another player. The Padres still could use another quality starting pitcher as they prepare to begin the regular season at home against Detroit on Thursday, especially with right-hander Joe Musgrove expected to start on the injured list in his return from Tommy John surgery.

Placing a player on the restricted list allows teams to free up a roster spot while retaining the player's rights. Darvish also won't accrue service time while on the restricted list, but he is already fully vested in MLB's pension plan after reaching 13 years, 146 days in the majors.

Darvish is one of Japan's most successful players in major league history, earning five All-Star selections and 115 victories. He has a career 3.65 ERA while pitching 13 seasons stateside for four teams.

Darvish made only 16 starts in 2024 and 15 starts in 2025 for the Padres. He didn't pitch until July last season due to elbow inflammation, and he was pulled from his start in San Diego's final playoff game in the second inning last October.

Two months after his surgery, Darvish denied a report that he had told the Padres of his intention to retire, saying he hadn't made a decision, but was “leaning towards voiding the contract” while saying there was “still a lot that has to be talked over.”

“Right now I am fully focused on my rehab for my elbow, and if I get to a point where I can throw again, I will start from scratch again to compete,” Darvish wrote on social media. “If once I get to that point I feel I can’t do that, I will announce my retirement.”

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB