DETROIT — Just when the Detroit Tigers were knocking on the door of a playoff spot, they were forced to place three-time All-Star Riley Greene on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain.
Greene went on the IL Wednesday and suffered the injury Tuesday night after scoring from first on a Spencer Torkelson double. The Tigers promoted 30-year-old outfielder Corey Julks to replace Greene. Julks had been in Detroit on standby as the Tigers sought more evaluation of Greene Wednesday afternoon. To make room for Julks on the 40-man roster, the Tigers designated right-handed pitcher Troy Watson for assignment.
Greene was hit by a pitch just below the knee before reaching base in Tuesday night’s game, but manager A.J. Hinch said Greene first felt the hamstring injury just before he touched home plate on Torkelson’s double.
“He never hobbled,” Hinch said. “I’m hopeful that’s a very good sign as opposed to the massive grab and hop because you don’t want to put any pressure on it.”
Greene, 25, has been an All-Star each of the past three seasons. He is one of the most important hitters in the Tigers’ order and entered Wednesday batting .273 with 16 home runs. Greene had been mired in a slump to start the second half, hitting only .189 in his past 15 games. With Greene out, the Tigers will likely lean on Ben Malgeri, James Outman and Julks to aid in left field.
“There are avenues for other guys to get opportunities if something like this happens, and we have to absorb it like every team has to absorb it,” Hinch said. “But it’s not necessarily just one player. It’s going to be a collection of players if we need it.”
Greene has worked hard in recent years, altering his diet, sleep and routines, to avoid the injured list after a spell of unfortunate health issues earlier in his career. Greene suffered a foot fracture in 2022, a stress reaction in his left fibula in 2023, Tommy John surgery in 2023 and a right hamstring strain in 2024.
Before going on the IL, Greene had played in 117 of the Tigers’ 119 games this season.
