Riley Greene who is the #2 ranked prospect in baseball, was called up Friday night by the Detroit Tigers. Saturday afternoon in Comerica Park, Greene made his Major League debut. Greene also provided the Tigers with some much needed life. So how does this help the team moving forward? I can only speculate.
For the free falling Detroit Tigers, Riley Greene was a shot in the arm. The Tigers have had a disastrous season to this point. Players not hitting has lead to the worst offense in the major leagues, while the pitching staff has been decimated with injuries. Such is sports.
Saturday afternoon, Riley Greene stepped to the plate and connected for his first MLB hit. Greene would go on to collect another hit and walk two time. He became the first Detroit Tigers to reach base four times in a debut since Scott Livingston in 1991, and first rookie since 2018 to reach the feet.
It is no secret Greene’s best friend is Spencer Torkelson. Torkelson has struggled in a big way his rookie season. Yesterday, with his best friend in the lineup Torkelson collected two hits.
Can one player make that big a difference? I actually believe they can. Being a top rated player in a system carries a heavy burden yet the good ones rise above and find a way to inspire teammates. Saturday afternoon saw the Detroit Tigers come to life.
Riley Greene has a sweet swing. One that has been compared to that of baseball Hall of Fame member, Ken Griffey Jr. What makes Greene so effective at the plate is his discipline. Greene does not chase many pitches out of the strike zone and is willing to go the opposite way if it means getting on base.
The one question when he was drafted fifth overall in 2019, was did he have the speed in center field to cover the huge outfield in Comerica Park. While that remains to unfold, at the very least Greene can play a corner outfield and be very effective.
It will be fun to watch the Detroit Tigers the rest of the season now that Riley Greene is on the team. While not a great season it will benefit the team moving forward.
How did you feel about Riley Greene’s debut? Drop a comment and let me know.
Really enjoy looking at your content. That said, Greene has exceeded expectations and is only going to get better.