Bold statement: A healthier lower half could redefine Hunter Greene’s ceiling and push the Reds into a sustained playoff run. And this is the part most people miss: durable pitching isn’t just about a single good season, it’s about the grind of a full slate, especially for a 6-foot-5, power-armed starter like Greene.
Reds ace Hunter Greene, at 6-foot-5, is one of baseball’s most electric starters thanks to a fastball that often tops the radar gun, paired with a sharp slider and a developing split-finger fastball. Yet keeping him on the mound has been the challenge that shapes Cincinnati’s rotations year after year.
What to know at a glance
- Greene went 7-4 with a 2.76 ERA last season.
- At 26, he was Cincinnati’s No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 amateur draft.
- His best year to date was 2024, when he earned an NL All-Star selection, going 9-5 with a 2.75 ERA in 26 starts.
Heading into his fifth major-league season, Greene expanded his offseason routine with additional lower-body strengthening work. The aim is clear: pitch deeper into games, rack up more strikeouts, and, crucially, stay healthy long enough to make every start matter.
Greene reflected on his goals: the focus isn’t just about numbers but about longevity. “Definitely set personal goals,” he said. “You know for me it’s about reaching a high inning count, obviously increasing strikeouts, and all the usual metrics, but the core objective is to go out there, stay out there as long as I can, and be healthy enough to make all my starts.”
Last season’s numbers helped Cincinnati clinch an NL wild-card berth—their first playoff appearance since 2020—but Greene’s workload was capped by injuries. He posted a 7-4 record with a 2.76 ERA across 107 2/3 innings in 19 starts after returning from a May groin strain. He briefly returned in May before another LJ stint and ultimately rejoined the lineup in August.
The Reds boast a deep rotation beyond Greene, featuring All-Star left-hander Andrew Abbott along with Nick Lodolo and Brady Singer. Promising arms Rhett Lowder and Chase Burns, both former first-round picks from Wake Forest, are in the mix for the fifth spot. Still, a healthy Greene could elevate Cincinnati’s entire rotation to another level.
Manager Terry Francona has noticed Greene’s preparedness and physical condition: “He looks good, he’s in good shape. These guys work really hard and they go after it.”
Greene’s journey to the majors began when Cincinnati selected him second overall in 2017. After Tommy John surgery in the minors, he earned a rotation spot during spring training in 2022. His standout 2024 season featured a 169 strikeouts over 150 1/3 innings, though elbow soreness kept him on the injured list for stretches.
“I’m 6-5, 230 pounds. I’ve got a lot of body that’s coming down the hill, a lot of force and output,” Greene explained. “So I’ve got to ensure every box is checked—health and performance. It’s a long process, but it’s my job, and I embrace it.”
Greene has described Cincinnati’s pitching staff as having “huge potential,” believing the rotation thrives on accountability and mutual support, which translates into better team production.
His postseason exposure came last year when Cincinnati faced the Dodgers in the NL Wild Card Series. In his first career playoff start, he allowed five runs on six hits across three innings in Game 1.
Greene signed a six-year, $53 million contract with Cincinnati in April 2023. He’s felt the weight—and the promise—of a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2012 or advanced beyond the NLDS since 1995. When asked about a potential long October run, he sounded hopeful: “It’d be very special. Cincinnati’s rich baseball history and the World Series they’ve brought here demand a celebration if we can get there. This city lives and breathes baseball.”
