The Tigers are promoting top prospect Riley Greene, according to various reporters (including Chris McCosky of the Detroit News). Outfielder Austin Meadows is going on the COVID-19 injured list in a corresponding move.
Had it not been for a fractured right foot suffered in the last few days of Spring Training, Greene was on track to make his Major League debut back on Opening Day. Instead, the 21-year-old has to work through injury rehab and then 17 minor league games (15 at Triple-A, two in A-ball on a rehab assignment) before officially being deemed ready for his first taste of the Show.
Detroit selected Greene with the fifth overall pick of the 2019 draft, and he has since been a fixture on top-prospect rankings, including a consensus top-six placement heading into the 2022 campaign. The Athletic’s Keith Law considered Greene as the third-best prospect in baseball, with Baseball America (4th), MLB Pipeline (5th), and Baseball Prospectus (6th) not far behind.
Greene only had an okay start to his pro career in 2019 at age 18, and then naturally didn’t play at all in 2020 due to the canceled minor league season. Returning to the field last year, Greene hit .301/.387/.534 with 24 home runs and 16 steals over 558 plate appearances at the Double-A (373 PA) and Triple-A (185) levels.
There is plenty of five-tool potential for Greene, who was already regarded as having “elite bat speed” (as per Baseball America’s scouting report) even before he started to display more power at the plate in 2021. According to BA, Greene’s “physical gifts and advanced feel at the plate make him a potential plus-plus hitter who contends for batting titles and he has a chance to grow into 20-plus home run power.” Greene adds to that offensive potential by being a stolen-base threat thanks to his plus speed, and that same speed has also helped him become a solid defensive center fielder. He could ultimately be best suited to a corner outfield position, and Greene also has a strong throwing arm that would help him in right field.
As if there wasn’t enough pressure on a 21-year-old making his MLB debut, Greene also finds himself cast as perhaps a turning point (or savior) of what has been a disastrous season for the Tigers. After years of rebuilding, the Tigers looked to be turning the corner with young talent on the way up, and they augmented that core of prospects with veteran additions like Javier Baez, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Meadows during the offseason.
Instead, Detroit has only a 24-39 record, as the club has been hampered injuries to almost every member of the rotation and a near-total lack of hitting. Tarik Skubal, Beau Brieske, and Alex Faedo have helped keep the rotation afloat, but the Tigers are batting a collective .220/.275/.315. Harold Castro’s modest 114 wRC+ leads all Detroit batters who have received regular or semi-regular playing time.
Against this backdrop, it is probably already too late for Greene to spark any sort of miracle turn-around. Instead, the outfielder will try to hit the ground running and make a good showing for himself in his rookie season, in order to give the Tigers something to look forward to as they reshuffle the deck for 2023. While Spencer Torkelson has struggled in his first MLB campaign, the Tigers’ long-term plan is to have Greene and Torkelson as lineup mainstays for years to come.
Meadows has hit .250/.347/.328 over 147 PA this season, and is still looking for his first homer of 2022 after mashing 27 balls out of the park with the Rays last year. Meadows also spent close to four weeks battling vertigo-related symptoms, and was only activated off the regular injured list on June 7.
Showtime
I had a chance to watch him in Harrisburg last year(Erie). Smooth athlete, with good bat to ball skills. I love his skill set
Yes, and he doesn’t turn 22 until late September..
Bruh I’m literally at the ballpark waiting outside with balls tryna get him to sign one tonight….
I hope he can sign your balls
someone had to say it.
My balls were signed by Todd Benzinger and Sam Horn. Now they’re worthless.
Stack of those Sam Horn rookies card sitting around somewhere
@StudWinfield, where’d they find a pen that small? I’d heard they’d been juggled & they say Todd Horn & Sam Benzinger, you gotta be nuts to let that happen
What’s really sad is I remember in the late 80’s Jose Canseco rookies were the hot baseball cards and worth quite a bit now they are almost worth nothing.
Crypto 1.0
Careful there are no kids around .. could catch a charge w your balls out
Probably a lot of guys, and perhaps girls, hanging around with balls.
Hallelujah
This guy’s special. Glad to see him up.
Tigers confirm on Twitter that Greene is being called up tomorrow.
Maybe he’ll help Torkelson get back on track
Now they can send Torkelson down to AAA where he can develop.
Meadows in on the lineup tonight. How is he on the covid IL?
Austin Meadows=Nick Esasky
I think SEA 3B Jim Presley career was cut short by vertigo as well in the 1980s.
Shame on the Tigers for bringing him in on a Saturday home game. If they really cared about winning they would bring him in as soon as he was ready, not waiting for a Saturday to increase ticket sales. Fire Hinch. Sit Baez and Schoop until they can start being productive.
I seem to recall Hinch had a *very effective* method of getting players to perform very well offensively in Houston….what was that again? It was as easy as the push of a button, as one might say.
You announce it on a Friday to play Saturday to give his parents a day to travel to see him
“Sit Baez and Schoop until they can start being productive.” How would that work exactly? LOL.
Put them on the bench. Not that hard to figure out
Uh. He doesn’t get it.
So they bring him up and sit him on the bench. Reyes, W. Castro and Grossman in OF.
How much worse can Riley be?
If you’re going to stink you might as well stink with your best prospects out there.
Bye, bye Grossman.
They are bringing him up for Saturdays game. If my son was going to the Bigs I would appreciate the club giving me a day to travel to get there
Lol baez was such a terrible contract.
And if he does turn it around, several opt outs that give him all the leverage. Avila gave him a $140m poor play insurance policy.
Too much pressure from day one on Baez to carry the Tigers. Not a good enough surrounding cast. He’s not steady enough on a day in, day out basis.
Baez will come around and hit. True, he needs a better surrounding cast. Greene, Tork and others will hit better as will Baez.
Baez has “opt outs” in his deal, so if he is thinking/motivated by getting an even bigger deal, then he better pick up the pace big time,