The Detroit Tigers will have to get by without Riley Greene for a while after the left fielder landed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a hamstring strain.
Greene left Tuesday night’s win over the Cleveland Guardians after the bottom of the second inning, when he came around to score on Spencer Torkelson’s RBI double and came up with right hamstring tightness. He reported the issue to team trainers and was pulled right away for more evaluation and testing. Detroit still finished off a 6-4 win, with Ben Malgeri taking over in left field.
“We are still evaluating it all,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said.
“There is clearly something that he is dealing with. But like always, we are going to take time and make sure we get a thorough evaluation from multiple medical professionals.”
Hinch said Greene felt the tightness as he slowed down to touch home plate, not while accelerating around the bases. That detail mattered to the Tigers, who continued gathering medical opinions before making the final call.
The club had already brought up outfielder Corey Julks from Triple-A Toledo as a taxi squad option in case Greene needed the IL. To clear room for Julks on the 40-man roster, Detroit designated Triple-A right-hander Troy Watson for assignment.
Julks joined the organization on a minor-league free agent deal in January and has put together a .273 average with an .800 OPS in 366 plate appearances for Toledo. He’s also no stranger to the big leagues, having appeared in 165 MLB games over three seasons with the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox.
Greene’s absence is a big one. The three-time All-Star had played in 117 of Detroit’s 119 games this season, splitting time between left field and designated hitter. He’s batting .273 with a .366 on-base percentage and .450 slugging percentage, and he’s added 16 home runs and 54 RBIs as the 2025 Silver Slugger winner.
The Tigers will divide Greene’s playing time among their current outfield options, with Ben Malgeri, James Outman and Julks among the main names in the mix.
“The sum of the parts is always going to be something that we are really proud of and we are going to continue to be next man up,” Hinch said. “And so it will spread out.
I don't know who is going to step up and grab it if it presents itself. But we are going to be open to any of those.”
Detroit also activated left-hander Enmanuel De Jesus from the paternity list and optioned right-hander Yilber Díaz to Triple-A to make space.
“I met with [Díaz] today and let him know I was impressed with his stuff and looking forward to him potentially pitching with us again,” Hinch said.
In Other News...
Jake Rogers Post Tigers Fall Just Took Another Tough Turn
Jake Rogers post-Tigers path has already become one of the more jarring little detours of the summer, with the veteran catcher bouncing from Detroit to Baltimore and then on to Boston in the span of a few weeks. For a player who spent a good chunk of his time in the Tigers organization trying to carve out a role behind the plate, the carousel has been moving fast enough to make it hard to find any real footing.
Boston gave Rogers only a brief look before his situation turned again, leaving his next stop very much up in the air. For Detroit fans following former players as much as the current roster, it is another reminder of how quickly a fringe catchers world can change once he is no longer tethered to a steady role. [Read more 🡒]
Wenceel Prez Return Just Took A Troubling Turn For Tigers
The Tigers have spent the first part of the offseason patching together depth wherever they can find it, and the catching situation has been one of the more obvious pressure points. After parting with Toms Nido and with Carlos Prez dealing with injury, Detroit turned to veteran Seby Zavala on a minor league deal to help stabilize the organizational depth chart behind the plate. It is the kind of low-cost move clubs make when they need coverage now and flexibility later.
Wenceel Prez was supposed to be another encouraging piece of the larger picture after working his way back from a left orbital fracture, but his rehab assignment has now been interrupted by ongoing eyesight issues. For the Tigers, that makes an already cautious return feel even more complicated, because the hope was simply to get him back on the field and moving toward regular reps again. Instead, the latest update leaves his timeline murky and adds another layer of concern to a roster that has already been forced to adjust around a few health-related detours. [Read more 🡒]
Riley Greene's Early Exit Leaves Tigers Facing A Worrying Question
Riley Greenes night ended much earlier than the Tigers wanted in the series opener against the Cleveland Guardians, a reminder of how quickly a lineup can lose its shape in the middle of a game. The left fielder was pulled between the second and third innings after reporting discomfort, and Detroit immediately had to start thinking beyond one game and toward what this might mean for a club that leans on Greenes presence in the outfield and in the middle of the order.
A.J. Hinch said the plan is to give Greene an off day and keep monitoring the situation on a day-by-day basis, with another evaluation coming the next day. For now, the Tigers are waiting on the kind of injury update that can quietly reshape a series, and maybe even the next stretch of the season, depending on what the testing and treatment reveal. [Read more 🡒]