Brace yourself for a season-shaping setback: Reds star Hunter Greene is sidelined by elbow stiffness and heads for an MRI. But here’s where it gets controversial: will a precautionary evaluation disrupt Cincinnati’s playoff ambitions, or is it a smart move to protect a future ace?
Goodyear, Arizona — Right-hander Hunter Greene has exited the Cincinnati Reds’ spring training setup due to stiffness in his right elbow. On Wednesday, team officials revealed that Greene will undergo an MRI in Cincinnati and will be examined by team orthopedic consultant Dr. Timothy Kremchek. In addition, Greene will consult with Los Angeles Dodgers’ head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
Greene was anticipated to serve as the Reds’ ace this season. In the meantime, he has expanded his offseason regimen to include more lower-body training, aiming to shield against injuries that could derail a breakout year.
Last season, Greene posted a 7-4 record with a 2.76 ERA across his starts, playing a key role in Cincinnati earning an NL wild-card spot for the franchise’s first postseason appearance since 2020. Notably, his average four-seam fastball velocity reached 99.5 mph, the highest among pitchers with at least 1,250 total pitches thrown. Despite the promise, Greene logged a career-low 19 appearances (107 2/3 innings). He also recorded 296 pitches of 100 mph or faster, second in the majors behind Mason Miller, who threw 422 such pitches.
Greene previously missed time in May due to a right groin strain, landing on the 15-day injured list. He returned on May 23 and started three games before again exiting with the same groin issue, ultimately staying out until August 13.
At 26 years old, Greene is entering his fifth major league season. He earned his first NL All-Star honor in 2024, finishing 9-5 with a 2.75 ERA over 26 starts. That year he totaled 169 strikeouts over 150 1/3 innings, even as elbow soreness briefly sidelined him.
What this means moving forward remains to be seen: will the MRI reveal a manageable blip or something more consequential for Greene’s workload and the Reds’ rotation plans? Fans and analysts will be watching closely as medical evaluations unfold, weighing the risk of delaying him versus the potential long-term benefits of a thorough, precautionary approach.
Where do you stand on this approach? Do you think pausing to diagnose now protects Greene’s upside, or could it become a momentum-killer for Cincinnati early in spring?
