As Selected by the Detroit Sports Media Association
DETROIT – Riley Greene has been named Tigers Rookie of the Year as voted on by members of the Detroit Sports Media Association, receiving 95 percent of first place votes.
Greene played in 93 games for the Tigers after his Major League debut on June 18, posting a .253/.321/.362 slashline with 18 doubles, four triples, five home runs and 42 RBI. From the point he joined the big league club, Greene led Detroit in multiple offensive categories among players with at least 250 plate appearances, including hits (95), doubles, triples, walks (36) and average exit velocity (89.5 MPH).
Greene had a 13-game hitting streak from August 20-September 4, which was the second-longest by a rookie in the Majors this season and the longest by a Tigers rookie since Milt Cuyler had a 15-game streak in 1991. He also had a 20-game, on-base streak from August 20-September 14, which was the longest by a Detroit rookie since Austin Jackson reached base in 25 straight games in 2010.
In addition to his offensive numbers, Greene was a standout in center field. Major League Baseball awarded him Electric Play of the Week honors three times during the season: June 26 (diving coach on June 25 at Arizona), September 19) diving catch on September 13 vs. Houston) and September 26 (home run robbery on September 25 at Chicago (AL)).
Greene, who was also named Tiger of the Year by the Detroit chapter of the BBWAA, is the first Tigers player to win both awards in the same season since Mark Fidrych in 1976.
–TIGERS–
