LAKELAND, Fla. -- Is there such thing as a switch-hitter in golf?
We may find out if Detroit Tigers outfield prospect Riley Greene ever gets serious about his new sport.
The left-handed batter is swinging his driver from the right side, even though he hits from the left side. Why?
Greene explained this week: “My father is a little crazy when it comes to my swing. My grandma bought me a set of clubs and she forgot that I was left-handed. My dad was like, ‘No, that’s perfect. He does not need to be swinging a golf club left-handed.’ So I just tried right-handed it works for me. I mean, I am not good whatsoever, but I go out and have fun.”
Golf is unlikely to displace fishing as Greene’s favorite hobby, nor is it likely to displace baseball as his top sport.
But the anecdote offers a peek at the personality of the 20-year-old, one of a handful of elite prospects in Lakeland who could some day become the face of the franchise.
Greene has sprouted quickly since being drafted out of high school with the No. 5 overall pick in 2018 thanks to a relentless workout program. Despite having played in only 57 professional games since being drafted, the Tigers seem likely to start him at Double-A Erie in May. From there? Well, it’s easy to dream about Greene competing for a roster spot next spring.
For now, he’s in camp to soak up information and learn from veteran players and coaches, like bench coach George Lombard, who’s in charge of outfielders.
“Just being able to pick people’s brains and listen to their conversations, it’s like, ‘Wow, I didn’t know that,’” Greene said. “It’s pretty cool to just be around all the older guys.”
Greene pushed back on the notion that 2020 was a completely lost year developmentally. He spent the summer at the club’s alternate site in Toledo when the minor-league season was canceled and then went down to Florida for a weeks of instructional play.
“I was pretty nervous that there wasn’t going to be a season and I wasn’t going to be able to play baseball,” Greene said. “But when I got the call, I was very excited. To be honest, I feel like being at the alternate site was the best thing for me, just because I grew as a person and as a player, physically and mentally.
“There was no sense of losing anything. I mean, I’m going to be antsy to get back on the field, always. But the stuff that I learned I thought was a win for me in my development.”
He also made some good friends, like Spencer Torkelson, the other top position-player prospect in the organization, and 26-year-old catcher Jake Rogers.
The trio is sharing a rental home in Lakeland this spring.
“We have a lake in our backyard and the other day me and Tork were fishing,” Greene said. “Rogers comes out and grabs a chair and sits down and watches us. He’s like, ‘I’m just watching my kids.’ He’s kind of like the dad of the house. It’s like a running joke.”
How did they do with the rod and reel?
“I’m pretty sure there were about two fish in that pond, and we caught them both,” Greene said. “So I guess that’s a win for us.”
Greene is passionate about fishing and usually sets his sights higher than a few stray fish. He purchased a new boat with his signing bonus and jokes that he provides “Riley Greene Fishing Charters” to friends.
But the fishing comes before or after hard work. His body filled out quicker than expected because of an rigorous offseason strength and training program. He even opted to lose weight this winter to slim down.
“I was actually 220 (pounds) when I went into summer camp and now I’m 205,” he said. “I felt a little heavy. So when I got home this offseason I started eating healthy and working out a lot. I feel like 205 is a good weight for me. I feel fast. I feel athletic.”
Most expect that Greene will eventually play a corner role, but much like the first base/third base discussion involving Torkelson, there’s no harm in gaining experience at a variety of spots.
“I think I was asked about (Greene) 24 hours after I got the job,” said first-year Tigers manager A.J. Hinch. “We know he’s important to our future, and we know he’s a really talented player.”