TigsTown Scouting Report #3: OF Riley Greene

Greene quickly established himself as one of the top prospects in baseball after being a top 5 pick in last June’s MLB Draft.

Riley Greene

Riley Greene (Photo Credit: https://twitter.com/greene21riley)

Vitals

Position: Outfield

Date of Birth: 9/28/2000 (Opening Day 2020: 19)

Height/Weight: 6’3”/200 lbs

Bats/Throws: Left/Left

Acquired: 2019 MLB Draft, 1st Round, 5th Overall

Scouting Report

The Good: There’s a lot to like as Greene enters his first full season of professional baseball, including his advanced physicality, solid athleticism, natural hitting ability, and power potential. Greene’s swing stands out instantly as a smooth stroke with plus bat speed and excellent barrel control for a player his age. As his approach improves with game reps, Greene projects for a plus hit tool that gives him ample opportunity to realize his raw power in game situations. He’ll show easy above-average to plus raw to the pull side at present and could grow into that in games. He has an average arm that should work at any outfield position and though he’s likely to lose a step from his present above-average speed, he should remain a reasonable runner once underway.

The Bad: There’s a considerable gap between present and future with the hit tool, and a lot that could go wrong throughout his offensive development, though that shouldn’t be surprising for a teenaged hitter. He was rough in center field last year but has the athleticism and showed enough instinct to profile as a solid defender on either outfield corner.

Risk: Something, something, high school player without a true full-season resume. Greene has a lot of development ahead of him and a large risk profile as a result. If the approach holds throughout this first full year, any concerns over his offensive potential will lessen considerably heading into next year.

Projection: A return trip to West Michigan is all but a lock for the 2020 season, though a strong offensive showing in the first half could lead to a mid-season promotion if it appears Greene needs another challenge. It’s easy to forecast an above-average regular on either outfield corner and if you really love the bat and squint a little, you can convince yourself there may be some All-Star appearances in his future.

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