Expert touts Tigers outfielder as breakout candidate

After a season in which seemingly everything went wrong for their team, Detroit Tigers fans are searching for anything positive.

MLB expert Jim Bowden of The Athletic, a former big-league GM, said Motown needs to turn its eyes to second-year player Riley Greene. Bowden recently put the 22-year-old on his breakout candidate list and forecasts big accomplishments for the outfielder.

As a high schooler, Greene was the fifth overall pick in 2019 MLB Draft by the Tigers. He quickly rose through the minor leagues and was considered one of the top prospects in the game. His smooth swing from the left side of the plate left many to believe he would form a middle-of-the-lineup punch with fellow top prospect Spencer Torkelson.

But 2022 was rough for both players and the Tigers as a whole. The team stumbled to a 66-96 record, with several players posting disappointing seasons. Torkelson struggled throughout the season and was demoted to AAA. Green started the season on the injured list with a broken foot.

Despite some struggles, he returned and put up a 1.4 WAR. 

Bowden noted that as a fielder, Greene ranked in the 71^st percentile in outs above average in spacious Comerica Park’s center field. Greene was also 75^th percentile in outfield jump.

At the plate, Greene was 75^th percentile in hard-hit rate and 82^ndpercentile in maximum exit velocity.