Detroit Tigers promote three stars to Triple-A Toledo

The Detroit Tigers have promoted three minor league stars, Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson, and Ryan Kreidler, to Triple-A Toledo as the minor league season winds down.

Unfortunately, we won’t get to see Riley Greene or Spencer Torkelson in the “Old English D” this summer, but they will put on the Toledo Mud Hens uniform as they take the next step on their journey to Comerica Park.

A closer look at Detroit Tigers prospect, Riley Greene.

With the fifth overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, the Tigers selected lefty-lefty outfielder Riley Greene.

Greene has played this season in Double-A Erie, where he played 84 games. In those games, he had a .298 batting average with a .381 on-base percentage and a .525 slugging percentage.

A stat that really stands out, outside of the obvious, is that Greene has been walked 44 times. That means, on average, almost twice a game he is getting on base, and that isn’t even factoring in his hits.

Greene has 97 hits so far this season, so it is safe to say, despite not hitting .300 or better, the kid is doing pretty good.  Before being promoted, Greene had hit three home runs in four days.

A closer look at Detroit Tigers prospect, Spencer Torkelson.

With the first overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, the Tigers selected Spencer Torkelson, a right-handed power hitter out of Arizona State.

Torkelson started his professional baseball career in High-A ball with the West Michigan White Caps and was promoted to Double-A Erie in June.

Rising to the highest level of minor league baseball in one year is pretty impressive, but it isn’t surprising when you look at the numbers.

In 81 games this season, Torkelson has 64 RBIs with a .399 on-base percentage and a .563 slugging percentage.

Torkelson, like Greene, has been walked quite a bit. Spencer has 54 walks which means, like Riley, he is getting almost two free bases in every game he plays.

Before being promoted, Torkelson went 7-7 in a doubleheader, hitting three home runs.

A closer look at Detroit Tigers prospect, Ryan Kreidler.

With the Detroit Tigers’ fourth-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, they selected Ryan Kreidler out of UCLA.

Kreidler has spent the entire 2021 season in Double-A Erie with Riley Greene. He played in 88 games where he has 89 hits.

Now Ryan Kreidler isn’t as glamorous or as known as the other two who got promoted, and his numbers agree with that assessment. However, it doesn’t mean he isn’t a valuable prospect.

Kreidler has 30 extra-base hits, which means that when he does get a hit, the chances are that he will be standing on second or third base. That is assuming he didn’t hit it over the fence because he has 15 home runs on the season.

The Detroit Tigers’ future is bright.

If minor league fame projected major league fame, the Tigers won the lottery, but it doesn’t. No, I am not saying you shouldn’t be excited; I am excited but take all of this with a grain of salt.

There is a reason to be optimistic and excited about what will be on the field at Comerica Park in the next couple of years.

The team is coming together; they think they have more legitimate pieces than they did a year ago.

Now, team owner Christopher Illitch can spend some money this offseason and make the Detroit Tigers a real contender.