Detroit Tigers’ Riley Greene has made history, albeit not in the way he would have preferred. On Saturday, Greene became just the 17th Major League Baseball player ever to accumulate 200 strikeouts in a single season. This modern era trend has emerged over the past 18 years, as all players who reached or surpassed this milestone have done so within this timeframe.
During a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, Greene struck out in the second inning, marking his 200th strikeout of the 2025 season. This feat also broke a long-standing Tigers record, previously held by Cecil Fielder, who had 182 strikeouts in 1990.
Despite Greene’s strikeout numbers overshadowing his performance, his season includes impressive achievements with 36 home runs and 111 RBIs—both career highs. However, his Wins Above Replacement (WAR) has significantly dropped to 2.3 from 5.4 last year, positioning him fifth among Tigers’ position players this season.
Struggles with strikeouts have been evident throughout September, as Greene recorded 30 strikeouts during the month alone and has struck out in 12 consecutive games. His highest strikeout-free streak this season was just four games, achieved in August.
In the American League, Greene stands out as the leader in strikeouts for 2025, while James Wood of the Washington Nationals leads the National League with 216 strikeouts.
Greene’s performance has sparked conversation surrounding the evolution of baseball, where high strikeout rates have become increasingly prevalent. While strikeouts are often seen as a setback, Greene’s impressive power-hitting numbers reflect the dynamic and multifaceted nature of modern baseball talent.