Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene in Home Run Derby? 'If it comes up, I'll think about it'

Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene, a first-time All-Star with a career-high 17 home runs in 91 games, is interested in participating in the Home Run Derby.

The 23-year-old wouldn't say he wants to do it, but he didn't say he wouldn't do it. He needs an invitation from MLB before he can make an official decision.

"If it comes up, then I'll think about it," Greene said.

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The Home Run Derby, as part of the 2024 MLB All-Star Game festivities, takes place Monday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The winner collects $1 million and the runner-up collects $750,000 out of a total prize pool of $2.5 million, with players receiving $150,000 for participating in the event.

Greene has a $766,300 salary in 2024.

As of Tuesday night, MLB has six of eight All-Stars confirmed for the Derby: Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson, Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm, Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna and Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez.

If MLB already has eight players willing to compete, then Greene won't get an opportunity unless there's an injury.

Greene hasn't participated in a Home Run Derby-style event since attending Oviedo High School, from which he graduated in 2019 in Florida. He doesn't think participating in the Home Run Derby will negatively impact his swing in games.

"In the past, when I've hit in them when I was young, I've always come out of them hitting better," Greene said, "which is kind of weird, but I feel like it wouldn't really bother me too much."

Greene is hitting .257 with 17 home runs, 48 walks and 100 strikeouts in 91 games in 2024. His .234 isolated power ranks 15th among MLB's 140 qualified hitters.

Greene, who credits new trainer Ben De La Cruz for his power surge, needed just 87 games to hit 17 homers in his third MLB season, surpassing the 16 homers he hit across 192 games in his first two seasons combined.

"Showing up, staying healthy, getting the work in, just trying to help this team win," Greene said. "That's my goal every day, just to go out there and help us win."

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Manager A.J. Hinch reflected on Greene's development throughout his three-year MLB career, including his stellar 2024 campaign that earned him a trip to the All-Star Game.

"I've seen him at his lowest moments, I've seen him at his highest moments," Hinch said. "I think him understanding that he needs to be 'one of nine' and not 'three of nine' or 'four of nine' is part of his growth. His understanding how pitchers are pitching him — that even though he can hit any pitch, he doesn't have to hit every pitch. His walks have gone up, along with his production, which is not a coincidence. Those two things go together.

"And his prep work has gotten really good. Early in his career, when you come up so fast from the minor leagues, it's hard to trust your established routines, what you got to do on a daily basis, and then you get up here, and you feel like you're swimming in the deep end of a pool without any help. It's nice to see him settle in, develop routines, work tirelessly with our hitting coaches on what his plan is that night and then actually take it in the box and not be afraid to execute."

The Tigers haven't had a participant in the Home Run Derby since Prince Fielder in 2013.

Dan Ross, an All-Star

Dan Ross, the Tigers' clubhouse manager, is joining Greene and left-hander Tarik Skubal at the 2024 All-Star Game. He has worked for the Tigers since 2013.

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It's his second All-Star Game, with the first in 2019.

Ross will work in the National League clubhouse as part of visiting clubhouse manager Mason McKenna's staff. McKenna, who runs the visiting clubhouse at Globe Life Field, invited Ross to join his crew.

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

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