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Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene feels 'comfortable' in legs in return from injury
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- Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene feels 'comfortable' in legs in return from injury
CHICAGO — Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene feels strong in his legs in return from the injured list.
His swing looks powerful again.
The 23-year-old, who missed more than three weeks with a right hamstring strain , stepped off the team plane in Williamsport, Pa., suited up for the MLB Little League Classic and played in Sunday's game against the New York Yankees , his first appearance since the end of July.
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"It was cool to be able to have that opportunity to be there with those kids and spend time with them," Greene said of his interactions with the Little League players. "That's the future — think about it. I just answered their questions and had fun with them."
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Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene (31) breaks his bat against the New York Yankees in the first inning at BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024.
Greene finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Yankees at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field. The results were less important than the way he felt on the field, especially the way his legs felt.
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In late July, Greene went 0-for-10 with six strikeouts in three games against the Cleveland Guardians before landing on the injured list.
His swing looked weak in those games.
"In Cleveland , I felt like the lower half of my body was shut off, and I was just using all upper body," Greene said. "Things were flying out, and I really wasn't even touching the ball. Now that my legs are back under me, and my hamstrings are feeling better, I can get in my legs, and I feel comfortable getting in my legs."
The rehab process in the return from the right hamstring strain was more mentally challenging than physically challenging. He played in two games on his rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo.
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"It was really just trusting it," Greene said. "I knew I did all my stuff that I needed to do strength-wise, and it was feeling good, but it was just mentally, I didn't want to do something again, so it was really just mentally trusting it."
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Greene, a first-time All-Star, is hitting .261 with 17 home runs, 51 walks and 111 strikeouts across 102 games in 2024, his third MLB season. He is the Tigers ' best position player.
The Tigers will monitor Greene's workload.
"We'll pay attention to how he's doing," manager A.J. Hinch said. "He's rehabbed and ready to go. I think it's just going to take some games for him to trust it and experience it. ... We will ease him in. ... We are going to be aware and cognizant of his reintroduction to the big leagues from a physical standpoint, but the hamstring is healed, and he's ready to go."
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Sending down Justyn-Henry Malloy
After the Little League Classic, the Tigers optioned designated hitter Justyn-Henry Malloy to Triple-A Toledo, thus getting the active roster to 26 players again .
The Tigers want Malloy, a below-average defender, to continue his development in the corner outfield positions.
Wenceel Perez of the Detroit Tigers celebrates with Justyn-Henry Malloy after hitting a walk-off two-run double in the 11th inning to beat the Kansas City Royals, 6-5, at Comerica Park in Detroit on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024.
"I didn't want him to feel like he did anything wrong," Hinch said. "He put up some really good at-bats. ... He can't just be on the bench or designated hitter. We're going to get him a lot of time in the outfield."
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The 24-year-old spent 37 of his 57 games with the Tigers as the designated hitter. He played just 20 games in left field, including just 14 times in his first 51 games.
The Tigers could recall Malloy, who hit .217 with a .698 OPS, when rosters expand Sept. 1 from 26 players to 28 players.
"We all hope that he comes back sooner rather than later," Hinch said, "and the rosters expanding could be an option. Obviously, we don't guarantee anything. The work between now and whenever that is has to be not only in the batter's box, but both corners in the outfield."
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Reese Olson , Wenceel Pérez on track to return
The Tigers are planning for right-hander Reese Olson and outfielder Wenceel Pérez — a pair of injured players — to return for MLB games in the 2024 season, even though there are only 40 days (and 37 games) remaining.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Reese Olson (45) pitches to the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Saturday, July 20, 2024.
Olson, who has a 3.23 ERA across 103 innings in 19 starts, has been out since July 21 with a right shoulder strain ; Pérez has been out since Aug. 10 with a left oblique strain .
"We want them to have more baseball left in them in September," Hinch said. "I mean, there's a lot of things they have to do in order to do that. Casey ( Mize ), obviously, is on rehab now and will continue to get extended out until he's ready to come back (from a left hamstring strain). But all three of those guys, we've told them there's still stuff to do on the field. If anything changes, we'll let them know."
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Both players this week are taking significant steps forward in the recovery process.
Olson, 25, is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday at Wrigley Field, while Pérez, 24, is expected to start a hitting progression at some point in the next three days.
"We have not given up hope that they can make more appearances in the big leagues," Hinch said.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene feels 'comfortable' in return from injury
