The Detroit Tigers will be down their cornerstone outfielder for the foreseeable future.
The Tigers placed left fielder Riley Greene on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday, Aug. 12. Greene was officially diagnosed with a hamstring strain.
Greene exited Tuesday night's win over the Cleveland Guardians after rounding the bases on an RBI double from Spencer Torkelson in the bottom of the second inning with right hamstring tightness.
Greene reported the injuries to team trainers and was pulled immediately for further evaluation and testing. The Tigers went on to win, 6-4, with Ben Malgeri in left field.
"We are still evaluating it all," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. "There is clearly something that he is dealing with. But like always, we are going
to take time and make sure we get a thorough evaluation from multiple medical professionals."
The Tigers called up outfielder Corey Julks from Triple-A Toledo as a taxi squad member in case Greene had to go on the IL. Greene continued to get medical opinions up until game time before the final decision was made. To make room for Julks on the 40-man roster, the Tigers designated for assignment Triple-A RHP Troy Watson.
Julks, who signed a minor-league free agent contract with Detroit in January, is hitting .273 with an .800 OPS in 366 plate appearances in Triple-A Toledo. He has played in 165 career MLB games across three seasons with the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox.
Hinch added that Greene felt the tightness in his hamstring as he slowed down to touch home plate, not accelerating around the bases.
"Right as he was getting to home plate, he said, right as he was slowing up," Hinch said. "Which is why you never saw – you know the guy that grabs his hamstring and hobbles? He never hobbled, which I am hopeful is a very good sign as opposed to some big mid-belly grab and hop because you don't want to put any pressure on it."
Greene, a three-time All-Star left fielder, had appeared in 117 of the Tigers' 119 games so far this season, either in left field or as a designated hitter. Greene is hitting .273 with a .366 on-base percentage and .450 slugging percentage. The 2025 Silver Slugger winner also has 16 home runs and 54 RBIs.
Hinch said the opportunities to replace Greene will be spread between Detroit's available outfielders, with the primary list consisting of Ben Malgeri, James Outman or Julks.
"The sum of the parts is always going to be something that we are really proud of and we are going to continue to be next man up," Hinch said. "And so it will spread out. I don't know who is going to step up and grab it if it presents itself. But we are going to be open to any of those."
Also, LHP Enmanuel De Jesus has been activated off the paternity list. RHP Yilber Díaz was optioned to Triple-A to make room.
"I met with [Díaz] today and let him know I was impressed with his stuff and looking forward to him potentially pitching with us again," Hinch said.
ContactJared Ramsey at jramsey@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers place All-Star Riley Greene (hamstring) on injured list
