| Riley Greene | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Greene with theToledo Mud Hens in 2021 | |
| Detroit Tigers – No. 31 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: (2000-09-28)September 28, 2000 (age 24) Orlando, Florida, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 18, 2022, for the Detroit Tigers | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Batting average | .267 |
| Home runs | 40 |
| Runs batted in | 153 |
| Teams | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Riley Alan Greene (born September 28, 2000) is an American professionalbaseballoutfielder for theDetroit Tigers ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted fifth overall by the Tigers in the2019 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2022.
Greene attendedPaul J. Hagerty High School inOviedo,Florida, where he played on theirbaseball team alongsideVaughn Grissom.[1][2] In 2018, he played for Team USA in the U-18 Pan-American Championships.[3] As a senior in 2019, he hit .422 with eighthome runs and 27runs batted in (RBIs).[4] He committed to playcollege baseball at theUniversity of Florida.[5]
Greene was considered one of the top prospects for the2019 Major League Baseball draft.[6][5] He was drafted by theDetroit Tigers with the fifth overall pick. On June 5, the Tigers signed Greene to a contract with a $6.18 millionsigning bonus.[7][8]
Greene made his professional debut on June 24, 2019, for the rookie-levelGulf Coast League Tigers.[9] In July, he was promoted to theConnecticut Tigers of theLow–ANew York-Penn League, and in August, he earned a promotion to theWest Michigan Whitecaps of theSingle–AMidwest League.[10] Over 57 games between the three clubs, he slashed .271/.347/.403 with five home runs and 28 RBIs.[11] Greene did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[12]
Greene began the 2021 season with theErie SeaWolves of theDouble-A Northeast.[13] In June, he was selected to represent the Tigers in theAll-Star Futures Game alongsideSpencer Torkelson.[14] In August, he was promoted to theToledo Mud Hens of theTriple-A East.[15] Over 124 games between the two clubs, Greene slashed .301/.387/.534 with 24 home runs, 84 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, 25 doubles, and eight triples.[16] He was named the 4th best prospect in baseball inBaseball America's annual Top 100 list for 2022.[17]
The Tigers planned to include Greene on theirOpening Day roster for the 2022 season, but he broke his right foot and missed the start of the season.[18][19] On June 18, 2022, the Tigers purchased Greene's contract, adding him to the active roster, and he made his Major League debut that afternoon. In his first at-bat, he hit a single.[20]
On July 2, 2022, Greene hit awalk-off home run off ofJoel Payamps of theKansas City Royals for his first career MLB home run. He became the first Tigers player sinceLou Whitaker in 1978 to accomplish this feat.[21][22] Greene was named the 2022 Detroit Tigers Rookie of the Year by the Detroit Sports Media Association and Tiger of the Year by the Detroit Chapter of theBaseball Writers' Association of America.
In 2023, Greene played in 99 games for Detroit, hitting .288/.349/.447 with 11 home runs, 37 RBI, and 7 stolen bases.[23] On September 2, 2023, Greene was placed on the injured list with right elbow inflammation.[24] On September 19, it was announced that he would undergo surgery to repair his non–throwing elbow.[25] The next day, the Tigers announced that Greene had undergoneTommy John surgery, and would likely be ready by the start of the 2024 season.[26]
On July 7, 2024, Greene was selected to represent the Tigers in the2024 All-Star Game on July 16, along with teammateTarik Skubal. At the time of his selection, Greene was hitting .258 with 17 home runs and 45 RBI. He ranked fourth among AL outfielders with an .863 OPS, and third among AL left fielders with a plus-8 Defensive Runs Saved rating.[27] He entered the All-Star game as a reserve in left field, and went 0-for-2 at the plate.[28] For the season, Greene hit .262/.348/.479 with 24 home runs and 74 RBIs in 137 games, as he helped the Tigers return to the playoffs after a 10-year drought.
