Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene scheduled to begin rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo

The Detroit Tigers are preparing for the return of Riley Greene.

Greene, an All-Star outfielder who has been sidelined with a right hamstring strain, is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Toledo. He was cleared to join the Mud Hens after completing running tests before Tuesday's game at Comerica Park.

The exact date for Greene's return to the Tigers will depend on how he feels and how he performs with the Mud Hens. He hasn't played for the Tigers since July 25.

"It was tough because we don't have much of the season left," Greene said, "and my goal is to finish it strong. Just really working hard and being smart about it. I passed every test. I'm feeling good."

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Greene, who turns 24 in late September, is hitting .264 with 17 home runs, 51 walks and 109 strikeouts across 101 games in the 2024 season, posting an .842 OPS. He made the All-Star team for the first time in his third MLB season.

His .842 OPS ranks 23rd and his 11.9% walk rate ranks 13th among 140 qualified hitters this season. When healthy, Greene is one of the best players in baseball.

"I want to do well on the field," Greene said, "but staying on the field is my goal."

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Greene landed on the injured list in late July after playing five games coming out of the All-Star break. He felt discomfort in his legs and tried to play through the issue, but eventually, he underwent tests that revealed a hamstring strain.

It marked Greene's second leg injury in as many years, as well as his fourth injury in three years. He spent one month on the injured list last season with a left fibula stress reaction.

"I think it was just as important for him mentally as it was for us to put a game plan forward," manger A.J. Hinch said about Greene passing his running tests. "Doing everything at full speed, and even some of his times down to first (base), which probably don't seem like a big deal, they're a big deal for him, mentally, in him knowing that he can go full speed and he's strong enough and he's healed."

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As a result of injuries over the years, Greene has been limited to 93 games in 2022, 99 games in 2023 and 101 games so far in 2024. He is likely to get extra reps as the designated hitter down the stretch to ensure he stays healthy through the Sept. 29 finale.

The Mud Hens kickstarted a six-game road series Tuesday against the Charlotte Knights, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. The series ends Sunday.

Greene will join Toledo for Thursday's game.

He looks forward to playing alongside first baseman Spencer Torkelson — one of his close friends — for the first time since the Tigers demoted Torkelson in early June to the Triple-A level.

"It's going to be good to see him," Greene said of Torkelson, hitting .248 with 10 home runs, 41 walks and 80 strikeouts in 55 games with the Mud Hens. "I'm sure we're going to chop it up and talk about things. Hopefully, we see him up here pretty soon."

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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