Tigers outfielder Riley Greene is expected to be ready to go by Opening Day 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery on Wednesday in Dallas.
Greene, 22, has been out since spraining his elbow while making a diving catch in early September.
Manager A.J. Hich told reporters in Los Angeles Tuesday the organization believed Greene had avoided a worst-case scenario. He said more details about his recovery timeline would be known after the surgery.
"Obviously, we need to get through the surgery," Hinch said Tuesday. "... We do feel good about it. Riley left in good spirits yesterday. We'll see him again in Detroit after the procedure."
The surgery on his non-throwing arm, performed by Dr. Keith Meister, went according to plan.
Meister "noted great satisfaction with the outcome and he's very optimistic on his return for Opening Day next season," Hinch told reporters, according to The Detroit News' Chris McCosky.
This marks the third significant injury of Greene's young career. He also missed the first two and a half months of last season after he fouled a ball off his right foot and broke it. He then missed another month this season with a stress reaction in his left leg. Now he'll end the year on the shelf.
Given his importance to the team, it's crucial that the Tigers keep Greene healthy moving forward. It might help that he'll be spending most of his time as a corner outfielder starting next season, with Parker Meadows taking over in center. One thing they won't do is tell him to stop playing hard.
"It's in his DNA to play hard," said Hinch. "We'll obviously have conversations in the offseason after we get through this surgery and we have a good picture of what his rehab looks like, what moving to the corner means for him, what sprinkling [games] in center means for him."
Greene's second season with the Tigers ends with a .288 average and .796 OPS in 99 games, as well as 11 home runs and 37 RBIs.
