The Tigers’ bad night got a little worse when Riley Greene’s early exit turned into a 10-day injured list stint.
Greene left Tuesday’s opener against the Guardians after showing hamstring discomfort, and the move came quickly Wednesday: Detroit placed the outfielder on the IL with a right hamstring strain and brought up Corey Julks from Triple-A Toledo. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the Tigers designated right-hander Troy Watson for assignment.
Greene’s night started with a jolt when Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee hit him with a pitch in his first at-bat. He stayed in, reached base, and then scored two batters later on a Spencer Torkelson double before being removed. The issue, as it turned out, appeared tied more to the running than the pitch itself.
After the game, AJ Hinch said Greene would not be in Wednesday’s lineup no matter what, and that the team would evaluate him further to determine whether an IL move was necessary. By Wednesday afternoon, that answer was clear.
For Julks, this is another shot at the majors after a brief run with the White Sox in 2025. He played in six games for Chicago, hit .250, and posted a .647 OPS before electing free agency after the season. He then signed a minor league deal with the Tigers and got an invitation to spring training.
Julks made a strong impression in camp, but there wasn’t an Opening Day lane for him, so he has spent the year with Toledo as depth. That wait ended with Greene sidelined.
In Triple-A, Julks has put together a solid line: .276 with an .800 OPS, 15 homers, and 54 RBI. Those numbers don’t scream star turn, but they do suggest there’s enough there for Detroit to lean on him in the short term.
The Tigers are hoping this stays brief. Greene had managed to avoid the injured list since August 2024, and Detroit would love to keep it that way after already dealing with enough turbulence this season.
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