Detroit Tigers top pick Riley Greene hits 2 HRs, including a grand slam in debut

Riley Greene, welcome to professional baseball.

Greene, the Detroit Tigers’ No.1 draft pick, made a smashing debut in his first professional game on Monday afternoon, hitting a pair of home runs, including an eighth-inning grand slam, and a double while playing in the Gulf Coast League for Tigers West against the Blue Jays.

Greene, who recently graduated from high school, finished 4-for-5, drove in five runs and scored two runs in a 9-4 victory on a 91-degree afternoon at TigerTown in Lakeland, Florida.

Which brings to mind a quote from Miguel Cabrera on June 7.

“He’s 18? For real?” Cabrera screamed, as he watched Greene take batting practice in Comerica Park. “Leave him here!” 

OK. So Cabrera was kidding — we think.

Greene, who was taken with the fifth overall pick, has said he wants to play center field for the Tigers. And that's where he started on Monday, hitting second in the lineup, right behind Jack Kenley, the Arkansas shortstop taken in the eighth round.

More on Greene:

Riley Greene's journey to Detroit Tigers started with a Florida scout

Kenley also had a fantastic debut, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and four runs scored.

Greene hit his first home run, in the fifth inning, off Juan De Paula, 21, who has 56 games of minor league experience and is on a rehab assignment. 

He hit his second home run off of Ronald Govea, 18, who has 15 games of experience.

Greene’s debut is reminiscent of Brock Deatherage, who hit three home runs in his minor league debut on June 18, 2018. Deatherage hit another home run in his second game, and he was quickly shuttled to West Michigan.

But there is no need to rush Greene.

Not for a few days, at least.

Not unless he keeps doing this.