Riley Greene's Return Could Force Tigers Into Difficult Roster Decision
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The Detroit Tigers are waiting for Riley Greene to return from a right hamstring strain, and there is no question his bat would immediately strengthen the lineup.
The Tigers placed Greene on the 10-day injured list Aug. 12, but he has continued progressing toward a return.
Detroit's outfielder has been completing running, hitting, and defensive work in Lakeland, Fla., with MLB's Tigers injury tracker listing the end of August or beginning of September as his expected return window. Greene is also expected to rejoin the club in Detroit as he continues increasing his baseball activity.
Getting him back would solve one of the Tigers' biggest offensive problems. It could also force manager AJ Hinch and the front office into a surprisingly difficult roster decision.
Brett Callahan Has Taken Advantage of His Opportunity
Greene was producing a .273/.366/.450 slash line with 16 home runs and 54 RBI before landing on the injured list. Detroit obviously has an everyday place that can handle that level of production.
The more interesting question is what happens to the young players who received opportunities because Greene and several other outfielders went down. Brett Callahan has made sure his name is part of that discussion.
The Tigers selected Callahan's contract from Triple-A Toledo on Aug. 16, and he immediately made an impression. Callahan turned the first pitch of his Major League career into a two-run triple, becoming the first Detroit player to triple in his first Major League plate appearance in 114 years, according to MLB.
Detroit then watched Callahan hit his first Major League home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates two days later. The ball left his bat at 110.3 mph and traveled 392 feet, according to MLB's Statcast tracking.
Max Clark has also received regular opportunities in center field and remains one of the organization's most important young players. The Tigers want to evaluate their prospects, but they are also trying to remain alive in the AL Wild Card race.
Greene Is Not Detroit's Only Injured Outfielder
The situation extends beyond Greene because Detroit has several outfielders working through injuries. Kerry Carpenter, Parker Meadows, Matt Vierling, Wenceel Pérez, and James Outman have all appeared on the club's injury report.
The Tigers will not get every player back at once, and some timelines remain much less certain than others. Greene's activation could still provide the first major test of how Detroit balances its veterans with the younger players who have taken advantage of unexpected opportunities.
Callahan could eventually be the player affected by Greene's return. If he continues producing, however, the Tigers may have to consider another direction when the corresponding move arrives.
Detroit desperately needs Greene back in the middle of its lineup. The interesting part is that his return might solve one problem while creating another.
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