Greene launched a three-run homer to left field in the third inning of Double-A Erie’s 14-1 rout of Altoona on Saturday night, his fourth straight contest with a home run. The 20-year-old outfielder, whom Detroit selected fifth overall in 2019, is hitting .396 with six homers this month after his 1-for-4 performance Saturday.
Riley made the jump from Rookie-level ball in 2019 to Double-A after the pandemic caused the cancellation of the 2020 Minor League season, and he hasn’t seemed to have any problem adjusting — he’s hitting .296 with a .901 OPS and 16 homers in 83 games with the SeaWolves this season.
Right now, Riley is appointment viewing the way he’s going at the plate. His power surge isn’t exactly surprising, but it’s definitely the first sustained period of power hitting he’s shown at the professional level.
He’s already ascended through the Tigers’ farm system rapidly, and if this keeps up, that trend will surely continue.