Tigers' Riley Greene Has A.J. Hinch Message After Removal From Guardians Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Oct 1, 2025 5:19 PM ET

The Detroit Tigers entered Wednesday’s wild card game against the Cleveland Guardians with a chance to advance to the ALDS after Tarik Skubal dominated Game 1. Unfortunately for Detroit, the Tigers fell 6–1 after an eighth-inning rally from Cleveland, forcing an elimination game set for Thursday.

As the Tigers have struggled to produce runs, manager A.J. Hinch has been desperate to provide any sort of spark to the offense. On Wednesday, that included removing the team’s emerging star Riley Greene from the game early for the red-hot Jahmai Jones with runners on the corners and one out in the top of the seventh inning. The move backfired, as Jones struck out and the runners were both stranded.

Hinch’s decision to remove the All-Star Riley Greene likely stemmed from his disadvantage against Tim Herrin, as both are left-handed. After inserting Jones, the Tigers effectively removed that disadvantage, yet it forced Greene out of the game entirely and was not successful.

After the game, Greene had a clear message for Hinch, "I didn't think anything. I trust (AJ). I trust his judgment. We are all in all the time. That's all of us. AJ thought it was the right call and I didn't think twice about it." (h/t Chris McCosky of Detroit News)

Riley Greene on being pinch-hit for: "I didn't think anything. I trust (AJ). I trust his judgment. We are all in all the time. That's all of us. AJ thought it was the right call and I didn't think twice about it." https://t.co/WVqvYotg3J
— Chris McCosky (@cmccosky) October 1, 2025

The numbers do defend Hinch’s point, as Greene’s production drops off against southpaws. Over 179 at-bats against left-handed pitching during the regular season, Greene batted just .218 with a .620 OPS and four home runs. Greene totaled 36 home runs during the regular season, proving he is not the same hitter in same-handed matchups.

As for Jones, the 28-year-old journeyman torched left-handers down the stretch, owning a .288 batting average, .970 OPS and seven home runs through 104 at-bats. However, even if Jones may have been the better option, it may have been in Detroit’s best interest to keep in the club’s most productive hitter. Greene has more postseason experience after the Tigers’ playoff run in 2024 and is seen as a huge part of the club’s future.

Greene debuted for the Tigers in 2022 at just 21 years old. He was selected fifth overall by Detroit in the 2019 MLB Draft. Now playing in his fourth season with the organization, Greene has collected back-to-back All-Star selections from 2024–25.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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