Tigers draft high-school outfielder Riley Greene with 5th overall pick

For the first time since 2014, the Tigers have selected a position player with their top pick in the MLB Draft. By drafting high-school outfielder Riley Greene with the fifth overall selection on Monday, they hope they’ve landed the impact hitter they’ve been seeking for years to round out their

For the first time since 2014, the Tigers have selected a position player with their top pick in the MLB Draft. By drafting high-school outfielder Riley Greene with the fifth overall selection on Monday, they hope they’ve landed the impact hitter they’ve been seeking for years to round out their rebuilding plan.

As most mock drafts suggested, the Tigers landed the player many believe to be the best pure high-school hitter available. Greene will likely take time to develop, more than the college hitters who went elsewhere among the top picks, but the rebuilding Tigers believe he’ll be worth the wait when he arrives.

“I wanted to go to the Tigers for a long time,” Greene told MLB Network Radio after getting the call. I’m just very excited that I get to be able to go to them now.”

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The Tigers have known about Greene’s work for a while. The son of an Orlando, Fla., area hitting instructor, Greene has a smooth left-handed swing that has been on display in summer showcases and tournaments. He won the Gatorade Player of the Year Award in Florida while batting .422 with eight home runs and 38 runs scored for Hagerty High School in Oviedo.

On the national circuit, Greene helped lead Team USA’s under-18 team to a gold medal in last year’s Pan-American Championships, slugging three home runs and scoring 18 runs.

“He’s a dynamic outfielder with a large frame and loose swing from the left side, and really knows how to find the sweet spot in a repeatable way,” Tigers scouting director Scott Pleis said in a statement. “He’s got what we call the ‘hit gene’ and matches his performance in the batter’s box with highlight-reel plays in the outfield on a regular basis. All of us in the Tigers amateur scouting department are eager to see Riley reach his potential as he grows in our organization over the coming years.”

Greene’s 60-grade hitting on the 20-80 scale ties him for the highest grade awarded by MLB Pipeline among hitters in this year’s class, matching top pick Adley Rutchman, fellow top-five pick Andrew Vaughn and UNLV shortstop Bryson Stott — all college hitters. The only other prep player with a 60 grade was Washington state outfielder Corbin Carroll. Greene is projected to gain power as he physically matures.

“My approach is just see ball, hit ball really,” Greene told MLB Network Radio. “It changes when there’s runners on base, but it’s really just see ball, hit ball, simple. Just stay [on my] back side, don’t try to pull anything and if it’s there, pull it. But [otherwise] just try to stay in the middle of the field.”

Greene is the first high school position player selected by the Tigers in the first round since Derek Hill went 23rd overall in 2014. Hill was an athletic phenom out of high school; his defense has been stellar on his way up the Tigers’ farm system, but injuries have slowed his progress.

Greene has much more of an offensive resume, but profiles as a corner outfielder. At fifth overall, he’s the Tigers’ highest-drafted high school position player since Tony Clark went second overall in 1990.

We’re excited for the future, @Greene21Riley.#RoadToDetroit pic.twitter.com/PeYubODbfH

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) June 4, 2019

The Draft continues on Tuesday with Rounds 3-10. The MLB.com preview show begins at 12:30 p.m. ET, with exclusive coverage beginning at 1 p.m. ET. Go to MLB.com/Draft for complete coverage, including every pick on Draft Tracker, coverage and analysis from MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo, the complete order of selection and more. And follow @MLBDraft and @MLBDraftTracker on Twitter.