LAKELAND, Fla. — Riley Greene has been the Detroit Tigers’ offensive leader for the last three seasons. But it was his defense that, somewhat unexpectedly, became a point of scrutiny in 2025.
Not long ago, Greene was the Detroit Tigers’ everyday center fielder. His transition to a corner outfield spot in 2024 was logical given the organization’s depth and long-term plans, and initially, it looked like a seamless adjustment.
Greene did what many converted center fielders do. He became a very good defensive corner outfielder. In 2024, he finished with one of the top-rated gloves in baseball.
In 2025, the metrics told a different story: minus-7 Defensive Runs Saved and minus-3 Fielding Run Value.
Was it a one-year blip for a player who has dealt with lower-body injuries early in his career? A case of metrics not reflecting reality? Or is it something to keep an eye on?
Greene has been an elite offensive player over the last three seasons, posting a 123 OPS+ in 1,655 plate appearances, so harping on his defense doesn’t seem quite fair.
But defensive value matters, not just to the Tigers, but to Greene himself. A corner outfielder who adds value with his glove is viewed very differently from one trending toward designated hitter duty. Until last season, Greene fit into the former category.
TIGERS IN 2026: This is the seventh in a series of profiles on the Detroit Tigers’ organizational depth heading into the 2026 season. Previously: Catchers, first basemen, second basemen, shortstops, third basemen, center fielders.
While we’re nitpicking, it also didn’t go unnoticed that Greene passed the 200-strikeout threshold for the first time in his career last season. He struck out in a whopping 30.7 percent of his plate appearances. The Tigers can tolerate that as long as he continues to slug at a .500 clip, but the strikeout rate makes the long ball an essential part of his game.
While Greene will be the Tigers’ primary left fielder, right field could be more of a timeshare. But if we’re making a guess in February, it appears Wenceel Pérez is in line to receive the bulk of the starts for a third consecutive season.
That would’ve been inconceivable in the spring of 2024, when Pérez was struggling through spring training as an infielder and his 40-man roster spot seemed precarious.
Kerry Carpenter and Jahmai Jones will be an imposing platoon at designated hitter, but Carpenter has shown himself to be a far more capable outfielder than he’s often given credit for. Should the Tigers’ plans change and they need to open the DH slot for someone else, Carpenter is a very adequate corner outfielder.
Detroit Tigers left fielder Riley Greene, right, and relief pitcher Will Vest, left, celebrate with Gleyber Torres, center, after he drew a bases-loaded walk to score Wenceel Perez to win a baseball game against the Houston Astros during the 10th inning, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)AP
CORNER OUTFIELDERS IN THE SYSTEM
On the 40-man roster: Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, Wenceel Perez, Matt Vierling, Jahmai Jones, Zach McKinstry, Trei Cruz.
Non-roster invitees to spring training: Corey Julks, Ben Malgeri.
Possible assignments:
Detroit: Carpenter, Greene, Pérez, Vierling, Jones, McKinstry.
Triple-A Toledo: Julks, Malgeri, Cruz, Gage Workman, Justice Bigbie.
Double-A Erie: Chris Meyers, Roberto Campos, Seth Stephenson.
Class A (advanced) West Michigan: Patrick Lee, Garrett Pennington, Brett Callahan, Stephen Hrustich, Junior Tilien, Jackson Strong.
Class A Lakeland: Zach MacDonald, Anibal Salas, Maikol Orozco.
Detroit Tigers’ right fielder Victor Reyes catches a fly ball hit by Chicago White Sox’s AJ Pollock during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)AP
Most starts at left and right field for the Tigers over the last 10 years
2016: Justin Upton, J.D. Martinez
2017: Justin Upton, J.D. Martinez
2018: JaCoby Jones, Nick Castellanos
2019: Christin Stewart, Nick Castellanos
2020: Christin Stewart, Daz Cameron
2021: Robbie Grossman, Akil Baddoo
2022: Robbie Grossman, Victor Reyes
2023: Akil Baddoo, Kerry Carpenter
2024: Riley Greene, Wenceel Pérez
2025: Riley Greene, Wenceel Pérez