Tigers' Greene diagnosed with artery issue; season likely over

Shane Greene's frustrating first season with the Detroit Tigers likely ended Sunday when the 26-year-old was diagnosed with artery issue responsible for aneurysm symptoms in his right hand.

It remains unclear whether Greene will require surgery to resolve the issue discovered after the former 15th-round pick complained of numbness in his right hand - a recurring problem that forced him from his start back on May 15 and, at the time, led to a diagnosis of mild ulnar neuritis. Greene will meet Tuesday with vascular surgeon Dr. Greg Pearl to determine if surgery is necessary.

"He had a little bit of what he felt his finger getting cold, prior to the last start, on his middle finger," head athletic trainer Kevin Rand explained. "Initially we thought it had to do with a major blister that he had on that same finger, but obviously [it's] a little deeper than that."

Acquired by the Tigers as part of a three-team trade this winter, Greene has vacillated between Detroit and the minors all season, stumbling to a 6.88 ERA with a 1.55 WHIP over 16 starts and two relief appearances through two stints with the Tigers. In seven starts for Triple-A Toledo, though, Greene crafted a 3.86 ERA with 1.37 WHIP in 35 innings.