In front of a lively home crowd on Friday afternoon, the Detroit Tigers kicked off their 2024 Comerica Park slate with a strong 7-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox. The win lifted Detroit to a 3-4 record while the White Sox dropped to 2-5. What made the day particularly special—aside from it being the home opener—was a trio of home runs from Tigers hitters, including two from Kerry Carpenter and a powerful blast from Riley Greene.
Greene’s home run was more than just another tally on the scoreboard. It was a moment of historical significance. According to Sarah Langs of MLB.com, Greene’s homer left the bat at a scorching 114.3 miles per hour, making it the third-hardest hit home run by a Tigers player since the Statcast era began in 2015. Only Jonathan Schoop (115.3 mph in 2021) and Justin Upton (114.4 mph in 2016) have hit home runs harder in that timeframe. Greene’s swing showed off the raw power and potential that have made him one of the most exciting young talents in baseball.
The 24-year-old outfielder is off to a hot start in 2024, batting .344 through his first seven games. That comes on the heels of a solid 2023 campaign where he hit .262 with 24 home runs and 74 RBIs in 137 games. While injuries have hampered Greene at times early in his career—he played just 99 games in 2023—his talent has never been in doubt. When healthy, he’s shown the ability to be a foundational piece for a Tigers team aiming to build something special.
The Tigers themselves appear to be trending in the right direction. After finishing third in the American League Central in 2023 and making the playoffs, Detroit entered 2024 with elevated expectations. They feature reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal at the top of the rotation and bolstered their pitching staff by adding veteran Jack Flaherty in the offseason. Flaherty picked up the win in Friday’s game, giving the Tigers another reason for optimism.
The series against the White Sox continues Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET. Detroit will send young right-hander Reese Olson to the mound, while the White Sox counter with Davis Martin. With Greene swinging a hot bat and the Tigers aiming to build momentum early in the season, fans have reason to be excited about what’s ahead in 2024.
