Tigers' Riley Greene Aims to Cut Strikeouts in 2026

All-Star outfielder focuses on discipline and situational hitting in offseason training

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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After back-to-back All-Star seasons, Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene entered the 2026 offseason with a clear goal: reduce his franchise-record 201 strikeouts from 2025 without losing his power. Greene says he changed his offseason training approach to be less comfortable, focusing on plate discipline, recognizing situations, and making adjustments rather than just trying to hit home runs.

Why it matters

Greene is one of the Tigers' young stars, and cutting down his strikeouts while maintaining his power production could make him an even more valuable offensive threat. Reducing his whiff rate could also help the Tigers improve their playoff chances in the competitive American League Central division.

The details

Greene says he asked his personal hitting coach to make his offseason batting practice sessions more challenging, cranking up the pitching machine and forcing him into tougher counts. Instead of just trying to crush mistakes, he focused on laying off tough pitches, seeing velocity, and being more aware of game situations to avoid swinging for the fences in inappropriate moments.

  • In 2025, Greene hit a career-high 36 home runs but also struck out a franchise-record 201 times.
  • This offseason, Greene changed his training approach to be less comfortable and more focused on discipline and situational hitting.

The players

Riley Greene

A 24-year-old outfielder for the Detroit Tigers, Greene is a two-time MLB All-Star who hit .301 with 36 home runs and 95 RBIs in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“Stop trying to hit a home run on every pitch”

— Riley Greene, Detroit Tigers Outfielder (Detroit Free Press)

“Not as many feel-good days, as we like to call them”

— Riley Greene, Detroit Tigers Outfielder (Detroit Free Press)

“We hit a bunch of homers and feel good about ourselves”

— Riley Greene, Detroit Tigers Outfielder (Detroit Free Press)

“So I can take pitches and make it super-competitive”

— Riley Greene, Detroit Tigers Outfielder (Detroit Free Press)

“If you have two strikes with a runner on second, maybe try not to hit a homer 5,000 feet or so. Taking a step back, letting the game slow down, recognizing the situations. Obviously, there are points where you can take your shot, and there's points where, let's maybe choke up and do some work in the box.”

— Riley Greene, Detroit Tigers Outfielder (Detroit Free Press)

What’s next

Greene's offseason adjustments will be closely watched as the Tigers prepare for the 2026 season. If his new approach translates to the field, he could become an even more dangerous hitter while helping the team improve its playoff chances.

The takeaway

Riley Greene is taking a mature, self-aware approach to improving his game, recognizing that his prodigious power came at the cost of too many strikeouts. By focusing on plate discipline, situational hitting, and making the game slow down, Greene aims to become a more complete offensive force for the Tigers in 2026 and beyond.