Riley Greene spent a quiet Friday afternoon at Comerica Park working through a swing session in the left-handed batter’s box, with a pitching machine feeding him balls as Tigers hitting coach Keith Beauregard fed him the feed. He sprayed balls to right, then center, and finally drilled balls into the opposite-field gap. Off to the side, Greene and another Tigers hitting coach, Michael Brdar, went through a focused routine—loading, the top-hand movement, the finish and the follow-through—while Tigers legend Alan Trammell stood nearby, his shirt bearing the team motto Everything matters.
Greene has long been more comfortable in Detroit’s underground cage, where music rattles the walls and hitters can string together their work in privacy. But amid a brutal stretch, he decided to switch things up, hoping to rekindle the feel of seeing the ball jump off the bat and landing in Comerica’s grass. He even joked that it’s good to realize he can still hit baseballs, a nod to the slump that has nagged him lately.
The recent skid has been among the toughest of his career. From the second game of a July 2 doubleheader through Friday’s series opener with the Angels, Greene was at .173 with five home runs during that span, but he also fanned 47 times in 115 plate appearances. He entered the weekend as MLB’s strikeout leader, a pace that, if sustained, could put him on a record-setting path. Through 119 games this season, Greene had 156 strikeouts, with Mark Reynolds holding the single-season mark at 223.
Greene’s plate discipline numbers reflect a season of extremes. In 2025, his strikeout rate sits at about 32.8%, with a modest walk rate near 5.9%, and he’s shown a willingness to swing early, posting a first-pitch swing rate around 40%. His path to the ball remains elite when it connects: Greene has hit 27 home runs this year, tied for fourth in the American League, and he’s an All-Star starter known for the steepest swing path in the league, roughly 45 degrees. The power is undeniable; the price is the strikeouts.
When asked about the year’s struggles, Greene was straightforward. He’s felt he’s not seeing the ball consistently, sometimes overthinking his load or what pitch to hunt. “I’ve got to simplify and stick to my strengths,” he said. “Hunt my zones and do some damage.”
The conversation around Greene often lands in two camps: a frustrating strikeout-prone hitter or a potential cornerstone whose power could anchor a playoff-level offense. The truth, as sometimes is the case, sits in between. The Tigers recognize Greene’s extraordinary talent and his value as one of the organization’s best homegrown players, even at 24. But they also know he’s a work-in-progress with a direct impact on a team that needs more consistency from its lineup.
On the field, Greene has shown glimpses of the complementary impact he can have. He was moved to the sixth spot in the batting order on a recent Friday—the lowest spot of his big-league career—against a lefty, and the next day he was back in the cleanup role. Over the weekend, he collected two hits on Friday and produced three hard-hit balls (measured at 100 mph or more) on Sunday, including a line-drive homer, signaling that the big hits can return with the right approach.
As for the club, Hinch hasn’t sugarcoated the challenge. He acknowledged the struggle and endorsed a measured shift in routine, stressing that the best remedy for a hitter isn’t patting him on the back but delivering hits. “We’ve all seen the last month,” Hinch said. “When you keep trying to do the same thing over and over again, it’s the definition of insanity.”
Takeaways and context
– Greene remains a central figure in Detroit’s future, possessing rare raw power and a track record of breakout stretches that hint at a higher ceiling.
– His current spike in strikeouts is not unusual for a power hitter aiming to elevate his game in a competitive league, but the Tigers will need him to improve at the plate discipline and reduce swing-and-miss to unlock a more consistent offensive rhythm.
– The team has faced offensive volatility, including a poor walk rate since the All-Star break, making Greene’s contributions even more consequential when he’s in the lineup.
– Short-term adjustments—altered on-field routine, movement in the batting order, and a focus on simpler decisions at the plate—appear to be the approach the Tigers are taking to help him rebound.
– If Greene can blend his power with more selective swings and better pitch recognition, Detroit could leverage his presence to stabilize a lineup that needs leadership and big hits as it competes to salvage a potentially special season.
Summary
Riley Greene is in a battle through a protracted slump, balancing aggressive power-hitting with a high strikeout toll. He’s mixing routines, leaning on guidance from team coaches and legends, and hoping for a spark that can re-ignite a season. The Tigers are counting on him to translate his obvious talent into sustained production, with the understanding that the rest of the lineup also needs to contribute for Detroit to build momentum down the stretch.
Optional note for editors
– Consider adding a sidebar with Greene’s recent numbers compared to his career norms, plus a short explainer on how a slight swing path adjustment and plate discipline changes can impact home runs and strikeouts for power hitters. A brief look at how the Tigers’ walk rate has evolved post-break could also provide valuable context for readers following the team’s offensive trends.