The Detroit Tigers have not lived up to expectations this season. The team is a year removed from a surprising 77-85 finish and placing third in the American League Central. Now, the team is 15 games under .500. And they are playing their hand, calling up top prospect Riley Greene.
Greene would have made the Tigers' opening day roster had he not suffered a fractured foot days before the season. Detroit would acquire outfielder Austin Meadows from the Tampa Bay Rays to make up for the loss. However, he along with other notable pick-ups Javier Baez and Eduardo Rodriguez has had a tough go of it this season.
The 21-year-old Greene makes his way to Detroit after Meadows tested positive for COVID-19, and his arrival couldn't have come at a better time. Here are three reasons why Greene could be the answer the Tigers have been looking for.
3 reasons Riley Greene is the answer to Tigers' recent struggles
1) An injection of energy
Simply put, Greene's arrival gives Detroit a shot in the arm. It's a similar jolt of energy the team received when they signed Baez and acquired Meadows. And it's similar to the buzz created when the Tigers announced fellow top prospect Spencer Torkelson made the opening day roster.
Adding a top prospect to the lineup can inject a team with new life despite the struggles they may be fighting through. Greene certainly fits the bill, as the former fifth overall pick has been regarded as a top prospect for years now.
Despite his struggles, Baez is still one of the most passionate players in the league. The energy he brings, plus the buzz created with Greene's promotion, may motivate the Tigers. And it could help them turn the ship around.
2) Offensive punch
The Tigers' offense is the worst in all of baseball. Entering play Friday, they average a league-worst 2.68 runs per game. Meadows has missed time with vertigo and has yet to hit a home run in a Tigers uniform.
Baez, who signed for six years at $140 million in late November, is hitting below the Mendoza Line and holds a .190 batting average. He has 54 strikeouts to just nine walks this season in 51 games.
The Tigers need a bat that can create scoring opportunities, and in the minors, Greene did just that. Last year, Greene launched 24 home runs and drove in 84 runs across two levels of minor league baseball.
Greene doesn't have to reproduce those numbers right now. He just needs to bring a capable bat and drive in the runs he can. And there's no reason to think Greene won't do that.
3) Stability
This one comes with a bit of a caveat, providing he stays healthy. However, this reason may also be the most important. If Greene can stay healthy, the Tigers will be more than okay.
Greene and Torkelson are not the first Tigers' prospects to debut this year. Their injury woes have led them to call up a bevy of their minor leaguers. Among the names called up are pitchers Beau Briske and Alex Faedo. Also, Kody Clemens, son of former Yankees and Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens, has also gotten the call.
The 21-year-old Greene won't be expected to carry the Tigers' offense early on. Nor should he, if we're perfectly honest. However, getting everyone healthy is the first step to salvaging the season. If Greene can provide stability, Detroit can start focusing on winning ball games.
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