Riley Greene Takes Over A New MLB Honor

MLB’s updated top prospects list is already here, and it comes with a few surprises.

After Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., Detroit Tigers infielder Spencer Torkelson, and Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman officially reached the 45-day MLB threshold, they are now graduated and not considered prospects anymore.

That leaves us with a new top prospect in baseball: Tigers center fielder Riley Greene.

“.@tigers 21-year-old OF @Greene21Riley has been promoted to #1 on MLB’s top prospects list!” MLB Network tweeted.

.@tigers 21-year-old OF @Greene21Riley has been promoted to #1 on MLB’s top prospects list! #DetroitRoots | @MLBPipeline pic.twitter.com/rpvQ5DSGoN

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 6, 2022

Sam Dykstra of MLB.com writes a pretty good summary of the list here.

Greene, recently called up by the Tigers after missing most of the season with a fractured foot, is already showing us all what he can do on a baseball field.

One For The Future Who Is Already Performing In The Present

He is a future game-changer, and has the whole package scouts are looking for in a position player.

He can run, he can field, he has a sweet left-handed swing, and he is speedy.

Before Wednesday’s games, Greene is slashing .274/.384/.403 with a home run and a stolen base in 73 plate appearances.

The best thing of all, and the most auspicious development with the future in mind, is that he is showcasing some impressive plate discipline.

He hasn’t been easy to strike out, with a 15.1 percent strikeout rate; and he is equally adept at taking walks, at 15.1 percent.

Good plate discipline will help Greene make sound swing decisions: knowing which pitches to avoid and which pitches to take advantage of is what makes a great hitter.

He is filled with potential, and MLB certainly knows that.

He is now official the number one prospect in the game.