Reds RHP Hunter Greene (elbow) making season debut Saturday

Published: Saturday, July 4, 2026 at 12:59 am

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene is set to make his highly anticipated season debut on Saturday night against the Baltimore Orioles. Greene has been on the sidelines since undergoing surgery in March to address bone chips in his pitching elbow.

Prior to his return to the major league roster, Greene completed three minor league rehabilitation starts. Across these outings, he pitched a total of 14 1/3 innings over two different levels, impressively not allowing a single run. During this rehab stint, Greene recorded 13 strikeouts while giving up only five hits and two walks. His final rehab appearance on Sunday for Triple-A Louisville was particularly strong, as he pitched 6 1/3 shutout innings, surrendering just one hit. He struck out four batters and issued no walks, throwing 82 pitches in that outing.

Reds manager Terry Francona indicated that Greene will not have his workload restricted against the Orioles. Francona expressed confidence in Greene's readiness, stating that the pitcher is strong, stretched out, and healthy enough to contribute significantly.

Greene, who is 26 years old, was the second overall pick in the 2017 draft. While he has shown flashes of brilliance in his four major league seasons, his career record stands at 25-29 with a 3.65 earned run average over 91 starts. He has accumulated 617 strikeouts in 495 2/3 innings pitched. Last season, Greene posted a 7-4 record with a 2.76 ERA in 19 starts, though he was hampered by groin injuries. The year before that, he had a 9-5 record with a 2.75 ERA in 26 starts and was named a National League All-Star.

The Reds organization is optimistic that Greene can remain healthy and form a formidable pitching duo with Chase Burns, the second overall pick in the 2024 draft. Burns, 23, has emerged as one of the top pitchers in the National League this season, boasting a 10-1 record with a 2.40 ERA in 17 starts. He has recorded 116 strikeouts in 97 2/3 innings.

BNN's Perspective: The return of Hunter Greene is a significant development for the Cincinnati Reds. His strong performance in rehab starts suggests he is ready to contribute, and the team's hope for a top-tier tandem with Chase Burns highlights their aspirations for the season. The key will be Greene's ability to stay healthy and replicate his past success, which could provide a substantial boost to the Reds' pitching staff.

Tags: Hunter Greene, Cincinnati Reds, season debut, elbow surgery, minor league rehab, shutout innings, Terry Francona, Chase Burns, National League All-Star, pitching staff

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