Riley Greene

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #1 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Greene has yet to lose any momentum since being selected fifth overall in 2019. He signed for $6.18 million and hit the ground running in 2019, cascading three levels and hitting a combined .271/.347/.403 as he rose to Low-A West Michigan. Following the canceled 2020 minor league season, the Tigers challenged Greene once again in 2021 with an assignment to Double-A Erie. Once again, Greene excelled, hitting .298/.381/.525 and joining Spencer Torkelson as the Tigers’ representatives at the Futures Game in Denver. The Tigers tested Greene again in August with a promotion to Triple-A Toledo, where Greene exceeded expectations both offensively and defensively. Over 40 games with the Mud Hens, Greene slashed .308/.400/.553 with a .954 OPS and eight home runs to bring his single-season total to 29 homers. Although Greene was among the Tigers’ selections for the Arizona Fall League, a head injury suffered at the end of his Triple-A season continued to produce concussion-like symptoms, forcing the Tigers to retract Greene’s participation. He cleared concussion protocol shortly after and began his offseason routine in preparation for the 2022 season.
  
  Scouting Report: Greene has drawn plaudits for his elite feel and instincts as a hitter since he was a high school underclassman. Mixing exceptional talent with a mature approach and a high IQ, Greene possesses elite bat speed with a fluid, balanced stroke and does damage with plus raw power. As a power hitter, Greene made major strides in 2021 as he blossomed into a true longball threat. Despite aggressive assignments, Greene hit 24 home runs and produced strong slugging metrics across the board. This showed up in the analytical data as well, with Greene’s max exit velocity reaching 113.9 mph. Hitting the ball hard will not be a problem for Greene, but his ability to balance potential plus power with easy plus contact and hitting ability is what sets him apart from other prospects. He has continued to display advanced plate discipline and barrel control at every level, and he shows the ability to make adjustments from at-bat to at-bat when fooled. His physical gifts and advanced feel at the plate make him a potential plus-plus hitter who contends for batting titles and he has a chance to grow into 20-plus home run power. Defensively, the Tigers’ have played Greene plenty in center field, but he projects to be a corner outfielder down the road. No matter where Greene plays, his decisions are made with enough confidence to make difficult plays look easy thanks to fluid actions. His above-average speed and arm strength give him a future in right field.
  
  The Future: Greene only seems to thrive with every challenge, leading to the belief that he could make a case for a major league promotion before the all-star break, if not sooner. His consistent contact and fluid defense should allow him to seize a starting role quickly and begin his ascent to a perennial all-star who hits for average and power.
  
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #5 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 60. Power: 55. Running: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: A few teams considered Greene the best high school player in the 2019 draft class, ahead of the more touted Bobby Witt Jr., and the Tigers locked onto him early before taking him with the fifth overall pick. Greene made good on those predictions by shooting up to low Class A in his draft year, a rare rise for a high school prospect. He continued with an impressive cameo during big league spring training before camps were shut down by the coronavirus pandemic and spent the summer at the alternate training site.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Greene is a supremely talented hitter with a unique mix of skill and maturity. He does immense damage with a fluid, powerful stroke from the left side, but he also manages the strike zone with impressive patience and possesses sound control of the barrel. He’s a consensus plus hitter and, with his frame still developing, scouts believe Greene should develop 20-plus home run power as he matures physically. While there was some discussion of Greene remaining in center field, his average speed makes him a better fit in right field, where his average arm strength will play.
  
  THE FUTURE: Greene has the offensive potential to join Spencer Torkelson as a cornerstone of the Tigers’ lineup for years to come. In 2021, he’ll get a second chance at a first full season.
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #4 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Greene finished his senior season at Hagerty HS with a .420 average and was a BA first-team High School All-American. Greene was the best prep hitter in the draft class and was taken by Detroit with the fifth overall pick. He signed for $6,180,700 then quickly zoomed to low Class A West Michigan after just 33 games in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and short-season Connecticut. He earned a spot as the No. 2 prospect in the New York-Penn League, behind only No. 1 overall pick Adley Rutschman.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Greene features a smooth, strong lefthanded swing that gets on plane quickly and stays there throughout his swing. He shows good barrel control for a prep draftee and has displayed the ability to stay within the strike zone. Greene shows plus raw power that should translate into above-average in-game power as he gets more at-bats and continues to gain strength. While he has played center field during his brief time in the minors, executives believe he profiles best in right field. His speed is average at best and he lacks the acceleration and closing ability to track down balls as a center fielder. His arm is average, as well.
  
  THE FUTURE: Even though his hit tool is advanced, Greene is still raw and far away from the big leagues. His overall skill set profiles best as a first-division regular in right field.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #5 prospect in 2019 draft
  The best pure hitter in the prep class, Greene entered the 2019 draft cycle as one of the most highly regarded bats and he has done nothing to dispel those notions during high-profile events throughout the summer and into the fall. He's hit top-level pitching so consistently that some teams have pegged him as a future 70-grade hitter, which is rare for prep bats. Greene has a slightly wide stance and a small hitch in is swing, but he has plenty of bat speed--more than enough to prevent it from being a potential red flag. He has a patient approach, and while there is some swing-and-miss in his game, Greene does a good job of working the count until he gets a pitch he can drive. Greene currently has solid power, but that should turn into plus power in the future as he continues to add strength to a still-lanky, 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame. While Greene has perhaps the most complete hitting package of the entire high school class, his supplemental tools leave something to be desired. He plays center field for his Florida high school team, but he is a below-average runner and will quickly move to a corner outfield position at the next level. Greene gets solid jumps on fly balls, but he lacks the closing speed necessary to make the in-between plays that major league center fielders are expected to handle. He should be able to play either left or right field, however, thanks to his average arm strength. In total, Greene doesn't project to add much defensive value, but a team drafting Greene is taking him for his bat, which should allow him to become a middle-of-the-order threat. Greene is committed to Florida.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #4 prospect in 2021
  The Tigers promoted both Greene and Spencer Torkelson to Triple-A Toledo in mid August. Greene made an immediate impact, hitting .295 with power through his first 26 games. Greene’s pure hitting ability rivals any prospect in the minors, leading evaluators to speculate he could one day compete for batting titles. He checks all the boxes—ample bat speed, barrel control and a mature all-fields approach—and he takes aggressive swings on pitches in the zone, to the point one Triple-A manager speculated it intimidates opposing pitchers. Greene is an above-average defender in center field despite lacking the top-end speed some may expect from the position, and most give him a shot to stick there. He played all three outfield positions while with Toledo. Despite his young age, he handled every challenge in 2021 with aplomb.
• 
  Ranked Eastern League #3 prospect in 2021
  Greene did not shrink from the challenge of sharing the Erie stage with Spencer Torkelson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft. Greene shined brightly in a season spent mostly at Double-A, making the BA Minor League All-Star Team. Greene appeared most often in center field at Double-A before seeing more corner work after a mid-August promotion to Triple-A Toledo. Some evaluators think he’ll end up as an everyday big league right fielder given how much ground there is to cover at Comerica Park and Greene’s average to slightly above-average speed. Greene showed power to match a corner profile by connecting for 16 home runs in 84 games with Erie. Several managers spoke highly of Greene’s work ethic, especially given his young age at just 20 years old, and were impressed by an even-keel approach off the field.
• 
  Ranked New York-Penn League #2 prospect in 2019
  Greene was arguably the best overall high school hitter in the 2019 draft class and showed an advanced approach in his first stint in pro ball. He showed maturity at the plate during his time in the NYPL and impressed managers with the way he carried himself on the field. Greene’s present offensive profile is hit-over-power, but his power should improve as his frame fills out because he knows the strike zone and barrels the ball consistently. He played mostly center field this season, but a move to the corner seems likely because of his below-average speed. His accurate arm and impact bat should help him profile as a corner outfielder. Greene’s natural hitting ability, coupled with athleticism and projection, made him one of the NYPL’s top prospects and should place him as one of the best hitters in a pitching-rich Tigers farm system.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #4 prospect in 2022
• Ranked Baseball America's #31 prospect in 2021
• Ranked Baseball America's #49 prospect in 2020

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Greene has yet to lose any momentum since being selected fifth overall in 2019. He signed for $6.18 million and hit the ground running in 2019, cascading three levels and hitting a combined .271/.347/.403 as he rose to Low-A West Michigan. Following the canceled 2020 minor league season, the Tigers challenged Greene once again in 2021 with an assignment to Double-A Erie. Once again, Greene excelled, hitting .298/.381/.525 and joining Spencer Torkelson as the Tigers’ representatives at the Futures Game in Denver. The Tigers tested Greene again in August with a promotion to Triple-A Toledo, where Greene exceeded expectations both offensively and defensively. Over 40 games with the Mud Hens, Greene slashed .308/.400/.553 with a .954 OPS and eight home runs to bring his single-season total to 29 homers. Although Greene was among the Tigers’ selections for the Arizona Fall League, a head injury suffered at the end of his Triple-A season continued to produce concussion-like symptoms, forcing the Tigers to retract Greene’s participation. He cleared concussion protocol shortly after and began his offseason routine in preparation for the 2022 season.
  
  Scouting Report: Greene has drawn plaudits for his elite feel and instincts as a hitter since he was a high school underclassman. Mixing exceptional talent with a mature approach and a high IQ, Greene possesses elite bat speed with a fluid, balanced stroke and does damage with plus raw power. As a power hitter, Greene made major strides in 2021 as he blossomed into a true longball threat. Despite aggressive assignments, Greene hit 24 home runs and produced strong slugging metrics across the board. This showed up in the analytical data as well, with Greene’s max exit velocity reaching 113.9 mph. Hitting the ball hard will not be a problem for Greene, but his ability to balance potential plus power with easy plus contact and hitting ability is what sets him apart from other prospects. He has continued to display advanced plate discipline and barrel control at every level, and he shows the ability to make adjustments from at-bat to at-bat when fooled. His physical gifts and advanced feel at the plate make him a potential plus-plus hitter who contends for batting titles and he has a chance to grow into 20-plus home run power. Defensively, the Tigers’ have played Greene plenty in center field, but he projects to be a corner outfielder down the road. No matter where Greene plays, his decisions are made with enough confidence to make difficult plays look easy thanks to fluid actions. His above-average speed and arm strength give him a future in right field.
  
  The Future: Greene only seems to thrive with every challenge, leading to the belief that he could make a case for a major league promotion before the all-star break, if not sooner. His consistent contact and fluid defense should allow him to seize a starting role quickly and begin his ascent to a perennial all-star who hits for average and power.
  
• October, 2021 Scouting Report
  Greene did not shrink from the challenge of sharing the Erie stage with Spencer Torkelson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft. Greene shined brightly in a season spent mostly at Double-A, making the BA Minor League All-Star Team. Greene appeared most often in center field at Double-A before seeing more corner work after a mid-August promotion to Triple-A Toledo. Some evaluators think he’ll end up as an everyday big league right fielder given how much ground there is to cover at Comerica Park and Greene’s average to slightly above-average speed. Greene showed power to match a corner profile by connecting for 16 home runs in 84 games with Erie. Several managers spoke highly of Greene’s work ethic, especially given his young age at just 20 years old, and were impressed by an even-keel approach off the field.
• October, 2021 Scouting Report
  The Tigers promoted both Greene and Spencer Torkelson to Triple-A Toledo in mid August. Greene made an immediate impact, hitting .295 with power through his first 26 games. Greene’s pure hitting ability rivals any prospect in the minors, leading evaluators to speculate he could one day compete for batting titles. He checks all the boxes—ample bat speed, barrel control and a mature all-fields approach—and he takes aggressive swings on pitches in the zone, to the point one Triple-A manager speculated it intimidates opposing pitchers. Greene is an above-average defender in center field despite lacking the top-end speed some may expect from the position, and most give him a shot to stick there. He played all three outfield positions while with Toledo. Despite his young age, he handled every challenge in 2021 with aplomb.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 60. Power: 55. Running: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: A few teams considered Greene the best high school player in the 2019 draft class, ahead of the more touted Bobby Witt Jr., and the Tigers locked onto him early before taking him with the fifth overall pick. Greene made good on those predictions by shooting up to low Class A in his draft year, a rare rise for a high school prospect. He continued with an impressive cameo during big league spring training before camps were shut down by the coronavirus pandemic and spent the summer at the alternate training site.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Greene is a supremely talented hitter with a unique mix of skill and maturity. He does immense damage with a fluid, powerful stroke from the left side, but he also manages the strike zone with impressive patience and possesses sound control of the barrel. He's a consensus plus hitter and, with his frame still developing, scouts believe Greene should develop 20-plus home run power as he matures physically. While there was some discussion of Greene remaining in center field, his average speed makes him a better fit in right field, where his average arm strength will play.
  
  THE FUTURE: Greene has the offensive potential to join Spencer Torkelson as a cornerstone of the Tigers' lineup for years to come. In 2021, he'll get a second chance at a first full season.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 60. Power: 55. Running: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: A few teams considered Greene the best high school player in the 2019 draft class, ahead of the more touted Bobby Witt Jr., and the Tigers locked onto him early before taking him with the fifth overall pick. Greene made good on those predictions by shooting up to low Class A in his draft year, a rare rise for a high school prospect. He continued with an impressive cameo during big league spring training before camps were shut down by the coronavirus pandemic and spent the summer at the alternate training site.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Greene is a supremely talented hitter with a unique mix of skill and maturity. He does immense damage with a fluid, powerful stroke from the left side, but he also manages the strike zone with impressive patience and possesses sound control of the barrel. He’s a consensus plus hitter and, with his frame still developing, scouts believe Greene should develop 20-plus home run power as he matures physically. While there was some discussion of Greene remaining in center field, his average speed makes him a better fit in right field, where his average arm strength will play.
  
  THE FUTURE: Greene has the offensive potential to join Spencer Torkelson as a cornerstone of the Tigers’ lineup for years to come. In 2021, he’ll get a second chance at a first full season.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 60. Power: 55. Running: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: A few teams considered Greene the best high school player in the 2019 draft class, ahead of the more touted Bobby Witt Jr., and the Tigers locked onto him early before taking him with the fifth overall pick. Greene made good on those predictions by shooting up to low Class A in his draft year, a rare rise for a high school prospect. He continued with an impressive cameo during big league spring training before camps were shut down by the coronavirus pandemic and spent the summer at the alternate training site.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Greene is a supremely talented hitter with a unique mix of skill and maturity. He does immense damage with a fluid, powerful stroke from the left side, but he also manages the strike zone with impressive patience and possesses sound control of the barrel. He’s a consensus plus hitter and, with his frame still developing, scouts believe Greene should develop 20-plus home run power as he matures physically. While there was some discussion of Greene remaining in center field, his average speed makes him a better fit in right field, where his average arm strength will play.
  
  THE FUTURE: Greene has the offensive potential to join Spencer Torkelson as a cornerstone of the Tigers’ lineup for years to come. In 2021, he’ll get a second chance at a first full season.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Greene finished his senior season at Hagerty HS with a .420 average and was a BA first-team High School All-American. Greene was the best prep hitter in the draft class and was taken by Detroit with the fifth overall pick. He signed for $6,180,700 then quickly zoomed to low Class A West Michigan after just 33 games in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and short-season Connecticut. He earned a spot as the No. 2 prospect in the New York-Penn League, behind only No. 1 overall pick Adley Rutschman.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Greene features a smooth, strong lefthanded swing that gets on plane quickly and stays there throughout his swing. He shows good barrel control for a prep draftee and has displayed the ability to stay within the strike zone. Greene shows plus raw power that should translate into above-average in-game power as he gets more at-bats and continues to gain strength. While he has played center field during his brief time in the minors, executives believe he profiles best in right field. His speed is average at best and he lacks the acceleration and closing ability to track down balls as a center fielder. His arm is average, as well.
  
  THE FUTURE: Even though his hit tool is advanced, Greene is still raw and far away from the big leagues. His overall skill set profiles best as a first-division regular in right field.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Greene finished his senior season at Hagerty HS with a .420 average and was a BA first-team High School All-American. Greene was the best prep hitter in the draft class and was taken by Detroit with the fifth overall pick. He signed for $6,180,700 then quickly zoomed to low Class A West Michigan after just 33 games in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and short-season Connecticut. He earned a spot as the No. 2 prospect in the New York-Penn League, behind only No. 1 overall pick Adley Rutschman.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Greene features a smooth, strong lefthanded swing that gets on plane quickly and stays there throughout his swing. He shows good barrel control for a prep draftee and has displayed the ability to stay within the strike zone. Greene shows plus raw power that should translate into above-average in-game power as he gets more at-bats and continues to gain strength. While he has played center field during his brief time in the minors, executives believe he profiles best in right field. His speed is average at best and he lacks the acceleration and closing ability to track down balls as a center fielder. His arm is average, as well.
  
  THE FUTURE: Even though his hit tool is advanced, Greene is still raw and far away from the big leagues. His overall skill set profiles best as a first-division regular in right field.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  The best pure hitter in the prep class, Greene entered the 2019 draft cycle as one of the most highly regarded bats and he has done nothing to dispel those notions during high-profile events throughout the summer and into the fall. He's hit top-level pitching so consistently that some teams have pegged him as a future 70-grade hitter, which is rare for prep bats. Greene has a slightly wide stance and a small hitch in is swing, but he has plenty of bat speed--more than enough to prevent it from being a potential red flag. He has a patient approach, and while there is some swing-and-miss in his game, Greene does a good job of working the count until he gets a pitch he can drive. Greene currently has solid power, but that should turn into plus power in the future as he continues to add strength to a still-lanky, 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame. While Greene has perhaps the most complete hitting package of the entire high school class, his supplemental tools leave something to be desired. He plays center field for his Florida high school team, but he is a below-average runner and will quickly move to a corner outfield position at the next level. Greene gets solid jumps on fly balls, but he lacks the closing speed necessary to make the in-between plays that major league center fielders are expected to handle. He should be able to play either left or right field, however, thanks to his average arm strength. In total, Greene doesn't project to add much defensive value, but a team drafting Greene is taking him for his bat, which should allow him to become a middle-of-the-order threat. Greene is committed to Florida.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Greene was arguably the best overall high school hitter in the 2019 draft class and showed an advanced approach in his first stint in pro ball. He showed maturity at the plate during his time in the NYPL and impressed managers with the way he carried himself on the field. Greene’s present offensive profile is hit-over-power, but his power should improve as his frame fills out because he knows the strike zone and barrels the ball consistently. He played mostly center field this season, but a move to the corner seems likely because of his below-average speed. His accurate arm and impact bat should help him profile as a corner outfielder. Greene’s natural hitting ability, coupled with athleticism and projection, made him one of the NYPL’s top prospects and should place him as one of the best hitters in a pitching-rich Tigers farm system.