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Tag: Riley Greene

  • Riley Greene’s World Baseball Classic Decision Explained

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    Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene won’t be taking part in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, and the reason has more to do with opportunity than interest.

    According to a report from the Detroit Free Press, Greene declined an invitation to play for Team Puerto Rico, choosing instead to hold out hope for a chance to represent Team USA. That invitation never came, leaving Greene on the outside of this year’s WBC field altogether.

    For Greene, this wasn’t a matter of turning down international baseball. It was about which jersey he wanted to wear.

    Why Greene Chose to Pass

    Greene has previous experience representing the United States on the international stage, having played for Team USA at the 2018 Pan-American Championships as a teenager. That experience clearly mattered when this decision came up again.

    Rather than commit to Puerto Rico, Greene opted to wait and see if USA Baseball would come calling. When it didn’t, he ultimately chose to skip the event entirely.

    The World Baseball Classic runs from March 5 through March 17, meaning Greene will instead remain focused on a full Tigers spring training and the start of the 2026 MLB season.

    A Long-Term View for the Tigers’ Star

    At just 25 years old, Greene still figures to have multiple opportunities to play in future WBC tournaments if he wants them. Coming off a strong 2025 season that included 36 home runs, 111 RBIs, and an OPS+ of 120, Greene has firmly established himself as one of the Tigers’ cornerstone players.

    From Detroit’s perspective, having Greene fully rested and locked in for Opening Day certainly isn’t a bad consolation prize.

    For now, Greene’s international ambitions are on pause — not because of a lack of pride or interest, but because he stayed true to the country he hoped to represent.

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    Don Drysdale

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  • Detroit Tigers Agree to Deal With Riley Greene

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    The Riley Greene and the Detroit Tigers have avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year, $5 million contract for the 2026 season, according to a report from Evan Petzold.

    Greene, who is entering his first year of arbitration eligibility, continues to solidify himself as a cornerstone of the Tigers’ lineup. The 25-year-old outfielder is coming off a strong 2025 campaign in which he posted 36 home runs, 111 RBIs, and a 120 OPS+, earning 2.2 WAR while playing every-day duty in the outfield.

    A former first-round pick (5th overall) in the 2019 MLB Draft, Greene has already built an impressive résumé in Detroit. Through parts of four MLB seasons, he owns a career OPS+ of 118, along with 76 home runs and 264 RBIs, and has established himself as one of the league’s better young left-handed bats.

    The deal gives Detroit cost certainty for 2026 while keeping Greene under team control through 2028, with free agency not arriving until 2029. It’s a sensible move for both sides. Greene gets paid without the uncertainty of arbitration, and the Tigers keep a key piece of their long-term core locked in.

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    Jeff Bilbrey

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  • Detroit Tigers Release Starting Lineup for Do-Or-Die Game 5 vs. Mariners

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    The Detroit Tigers are staring down a win-or-go-home situation tonight as they face the Seattle Mariners in Game 5 of the American League Division Series. Manager A.J. Hinch has released his lineup, and it’s loaded with familiar names ready to keep the season alive.

    Tigers Starting Lineup — Game 5 at Seattle

    1. Kerry Carpenter (RF)
    2. Gleyber Torres (2B)
    3. Riley Greene (LF)
    4. Spencer Torkelson (1B)
    5. Colt Keith (DH)
    6. Zach McKinstry (3B)
    7. Dillon Dingler (C)
    8. Parker Meadows (CF)
    9. Javier Báez (SS)

    Starting Pitcher: Tarik Skubal (LHP)

    What to Watch For

    The Tigers are handing the ball to their ace, Tarik Skubal, who’s been lights-out this postseason. In two playoff starts, the left-hander has posted a 1.84 ERA with 23 strikeouts across 14.2 innings, pure dominance when it mattered most.

    Offensively, Javier Báez has quietly been Detroit’s most consistent bat in October, hitting .346 with a team-leading five RBIs. Meanwhile, Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson have provided key pop in the middle of the order, each contributing timely hits throughout the series.

    The pressure will be on Kerry Carpenter and Gleyber Torres to set the tone early against a Mariners pitching staff that’s been stingy at home.

    The Bottom Line

    This is it, one game to decide who moves on to the ALCS. The Tigers have battled through ups and downs all postseason, and with their ace on the mound and a balanced lineup ready to go, Detroit believes it can finish the job.

    First pitch is scheduled for 8:07 PM ET at T-Mobile Park.

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    Don Drysdale

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  • Riley Greene Sounds Off Following Tigers Game 4 Win vs. Mariners

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    It was a rollercoaster game for Riley Greene and the Detroit Tigers, but in true October fashion, it ended with a roar from the Comerica Park crowd.

    At one point in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Seattle Mariners, Greene was booed after hitting a weak grounder for an out. But baseball has a way of flipping the script fast, and Greene made sure of it. Later in the game, he crushed one of the longest postseason home runs ever seen at Comerica Park, sending Tigers fans into a frenzy and helping Detroit keep its season alive with an 9–3 win.

    After the game, Greene’s confidence was as clear as his swing.

    “We believe,” Greene said via MLB.com. “We’re never out of the game no matter what, and we always believe in ourselves.”

    That attitude has defined this Tigers team all season: resilience, fight, and a quiet confidence that’s starting to feel contagious.

    Greene also shared how much faith he and his teammates have heading into Friday’s decisive Game 5, where Tarik Skubal will take the mound.

    “I love our position,” Greene said. “Skub’s our guy, and we’re ready.”

    The Tigers now head to Seattle with everything on the line, but if Greene’s words, and that towering home run, are any indication, Detroit isn’t just surviving. They believe.

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    Don Drysdale

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  • A.J. Hinch Explains Controversial Decision to Pinch Hit for Riley Greene

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    In a playoff game full of missed chances, the moment that stood out came in the seventh inning when Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch made a bold call: he pulled Riley Greene back and sent up Jahmai Jones to pinch hit.

    The Tigers had runners on the corners with one out in a 1-1 game. Cleveland had just gone to lefty reliever Tim Herrin to face Greene, a move designed to exploit the young outfielder’s struggles against left-handers.

    “I didn’t think anything,” Greene said afterward via the Detroit News. “I trust (Hinch). I trust his judgment. We are all in all the time. That’s all of us. AJ thought that was the right call and I didn’t think twice about it.”

    Hinch’s Calculated Gamble

    For Hinch, it wasn’t about Greene as much as it was about Jones. The manager has said all year he wouldn’t hesitate to make a tough decision in the right spot, and this was the first time he acted on it.

    “We had to take the shot,” Hinch explained. “You saw the same game I did. Up to that point, I think we’d left double-digit guys on base and almost all of them in scoring position. So I didn’t think that he (Guardians manager Stephen Vogt) thought I was going to hit for Greeney. They’d brought the lefty in for him in that spot. We needed the ball in play.

    “We didn’t get it, but we’re taking our shot with Jahmai to get the ball to the outfield.”

    Jones, who earned the nickname “lefty killer” in the clubhouse, had a .970 OPS against left-handers during the regular season. On paper, it made sense. But Herrin buried six straight curveballs, Jones struck out, and the Tigers came up empty again.

    Not a Knock on Greene

    Hinch made sure to emphasize afterward that the move wasn’t about a lack of faith in Greene.

    “Obviously, contact is the biggest issue with guys on base today,” Hinch said. “A lot of at-bats we had ended with their ability to miss bats. And it’s not easy. You can’t just touch it. It’s a tough game.

    “But I think the pinch-hit was really more about Jahmai Jones. This guy has been good, including the last series where he almost single handedly won the game for us when we clinched. Not a knock on Riley. Not a knock on all the at-bats we had with runners in scoring position. It’s a competition, one on one, and they won a lot of them.”

    Greene himself backed up his manager’s explanation. “We are all in all the time,” he said. “That’s all of us.”

    Riley Greene Riley Greene two ninth-inning home runs

    The Bottom Line

    The decision didn’t pay off, but it underscored Hinch’s willingness to go against the grain in October. Greene is one of Detroit’s cornerstone players, yet when the matchup dictated a change, Hinch made it without hesitation, and Greene accepted it without complaint.

    In the playoffs, those razor-thin calls define games. For the Tigers, this one just happened to go Cleveland’s way.

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    Don Drysdale

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  • Scott Harris Sends Message to Tigers Fans After Playoff Clinch

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    The Detroit Tigers are officially back in the postseason. Saturday’s 2-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park secured them a playoff berth for the second year in a row.

    But the story isn’t over just yet. At the time of publishing, the Tigers now hold a 0.5-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central. Cleveland is tied 2-2 with the Texas Rangers in the ninth inning, meaning Detroit’s division fate still hangs in the balance.

    If the Guardians pull off the win, they’ll move into a tie for first place, and because Cleveland owns the head-to-head tiebreaker, they would technically be in control of the division. If they lose, Detroit’s lead grows to a full game, and the Tigers can clinch the Central on Sunday with either a win or a Guardians loss on the final day of the season.

    Scott Harris Preaches Perspective

    Following Saturday’s win, Tigers President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris addressed September’s collapse and why fans should still feel confident heading into October.

    “History. There are countless examples of teams that didn’t play their best baseball ending the regular season, got a fresh start, lined up their pitching and got hot,” Harris said via Evan Petzold. “We’re going to do everything we can to be one of those groups,” Harris said.

    His message: the postseason is a reset. What matters is who plays their best baseball now, not who stumbled a few weeks ago.

    Why the Division Still Matters

    This isn’t just about bragging rights, the stakes are very real. If the Tigers can secure the AL Central, it would mark their first division title in years and give Detroit fans something to celebrate in October. More importantly, taking the division guarantees they’ll host a playoff series at Comerica Park starting Tuesday, giving the Tigers a chance to feed off the home crowd when it matters most.

    On the flip side, if the Guardians edge them out in the standings, the Tigers will be left starting their postseason run on the road, a much tougher task for a club still fighting for consistency. Home-field advantage could be the jolt this team needs after a rough September, and that’s why every pitch on the final day of the regular season carries so much weight.

    What Went Wrong in September

    There’s no sugarcoating it: September was brutal. The Tigers’ offense fell apart in key moments, stranding runners and failing to deliver timely hits. Riley Greene’s bat went cold during the stretch, and he wasn’t the only one. Several middle-of-the-order hitters slumped, leaving the team searching for production.

    Meanwhile, the Guardians surged, taking advantage of Detroit’s collapse to nearly erase what once looked like an insurmountable deficit.

    Scott HarrisTarik Skubal contract extension Tarik Skubal Injury

    Why October Could Be Different

    Despite the collapse, Harris believes the Tigers can flip the switch in October. With Tarik Skubal lined up to pitch Game 1 of any playoff series, Detroit will have an ace capable of carrying them. Add in a bullpen that, when fresh, has shown shutdown potential, and there’s reason to believe this team could catch fire at the right time.

    Final Word

    The Tigers are in. That much is certain. Now, the question is whether they’ll sneak in as a Wild Card or reclaim the division crown that once felt secure.

    With everything coming down to Sunday, the final day of the regular season, Detroit still has a chance to write its own story.

    Editors Correction: A previous version of this story claimed the Tigers won the division last year. This is inaccurate. The story has been updated to reflect that they were a wild card last year.

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    Don Drysdale

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  • 2 Detroit Tigers Named As Top Breakout Players of 2024

    2 Detroit Tigers Named As Top Breakout Players of 2024

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    The Detroit Tigers have had a season to remember, with two of their brightest stars making a huge impact in 2024. Tarik Skubal and Riley Greene have emerged as the team’s top talents, and they’ve both been recognized on a national level. Jim Bowden of The Athletic recently released his ‘MLB’s Top 20 Breakout Players in 2024′ list, and it features not one, but two Tigers. Skubal tops the list at No. 1, while Greene makes an impressive showing at No. 4.

    1. Tarik Skubal, LHP, Tigers

    WAR: 6.1

    Skubal has had an electric season, cementing himself as the premier breakout player in all of baseball. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch’s early praise for the left-handed pitcher has come to fruition in a big way. Hinch noted back in 2021 that Skubal was the best pitching prospect in Detroit’s organization and even went as far as to predict a Cy Young Award in his future. Now, three years later, that prediction is on the brink of reality.

    Skubal has posted an outstanding 18-4 record with a 2.39 ERA, dominating hitters throughout the season. He’s racked up 228 strikeouts over 192 innings, leading the league in wins, ERA, strikeouts, ERA+, and FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching). These exceptional numbers showcase why Skubal tops the list as MLB’s biggest breakout player in 2024.

    4. Riley Greene, LF, Tigers

    WAR: 5.3

    Riley Greene’s rise has been equally impressive. After hitting .254 with five home runs in his 2022 rookie season and seeing limited play in 2023 due to injuries, Greene has finally had his breakout year. Playing in 131 games so far, Greene has reached base at a career-high .350 clip while smacking 24 home runs and driving in 72 RBIs.

    His stellar performance at the plate earned him his first All-Star appearance, solidifying his role as a key contributor for the Detroit Tigers. Greene’s presence in the lineup has been pivotal to keeping Detroit in contention for a wild-card playoff spot. His breakout has been one of the most exciting storylines for the team this season.

    The Detroit Tigers’ Bright Future

    The recognition of Tarik Skubal and Riley Greene as two of the top breakout players in all of baseball is a testament to the Detroit Tigers’ growing talent and potential. Both players have played vital roles in keeping Detroit competitive and have laid the foundation for what could be an even more successful future for the team.

    With Skubal’s dominance on the mound and Greene’s consistency and power at the plate, the Tigers have found two young stars who could lead them to greater heights in the coming years. If 2024 is any indication, the future is bright for the Detroit Tigers.

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    Don Drysdale

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