Detroit Tigers News: Riley Greene injured, Spencer Torkelson set to debut

We’ve got good news, and we’ve got bad news.  First, the bad news; Detroit Tigers rookie outfielder, Riley Greene, suffered a broken foot on Friday.  The injury occurred after fouling a ball off his foot.

Greene, MLB’s no. 5 overall ranked prospect, was a shoo-in to begin the 2022 season as the everyday centerfielder following a tremendous Spring Training.  The former fifth overall pick by the Detroit Tigers in the 2019 MLB Draft has simply raked this spring, slashing .429/.500/1.048 over 11 exhibition games.  During this time, Greene has hit a pair of home runs and drove in four runs.  He’s also hit two triples and three doubles.

Greene in centerfield was expected to be flanked by Akil Baddoo in left and Robbie Grossman in right field.  Greene did play right field the other day in a contest against the Toronto Blue Jays, where he was able to flash the leather, making a superb diving grab on a laser line-drive tailing away.

This is a tough break for the 21-year old prospect and fans of the Detroit Tigers.  We’ve been anticipating Greene’s major league debut for a couple of years, but we’ll be forced to wait a bit longer.

Greene slashed .301/387/.534 between double and triple-A last season hitting 24 home runs, driving in 84, and stealing 16 bags only being caught once.

According to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News, Greene left the facility in a walking boot yesterday.  He is expected to be sidelined for roughly six weeks, but the injury will not require surgery, which is good news.

I expect the Tigers to fill this void within over the first month plus.  We’ll likely see Victor Reyes start the season in centerfield, but expect more reps in left field for Eric Haase, Harold Castro, and Willi Castro, with Akil Baddoo moving to centerfield at times.

Detroit Tigers top prospect, Spencer Torkelson, makes the Opening Day roster.

Now, on to some good news.  Saturday, it was announced that Detroit Tigers’ top prospect, Spencer Torkelson, has made the Opening Day roster.

Tigers legend Miguel Cabrera handed the 22-year old with a first baseman’s mitt at the team meeting when the decision was passed announced.

Torkelson, the first overall pick from the 2020 MLB Draft, is expected to become a middle-of-the-lineup bat and everyday first baseman for years to come.  Torkelson has displayed an abundance of raw power at each of his stops from college throughout the minor leagues.

Throughout Spring Training, Torkelson has slashed .280/.406/.440 but has yet to hit a long ball.  He’s belted four doubles and drove in three while striking out six times in 12 games.

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The slugging first baseman hit 30 home runs while driving in 91 last season at three levels of the minor leagues combined.