When Reds ace Hunter Greene was first positioned on the 15-day injured checklist final week, there was some optimism that the right-hander would solely require a minimal keep on the shelf to fight the problem. That hope has pale within the aftermath of an MRI on Greene’s elbow that exposed irritation. As famous by Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the membership obtained three medical opinions on Greene’s arm confirmed that the ace’s UCL has not been broken in what Bell and Greene have described as a “greatest case situation.”
Whereas that’s definitely heartening information for Reds followers, Wittenmyer notes that Greene now seems to be ticketed for an absence that can lengthen properly previous the minimal 15 days beforehand hoped for, because the right-hander is no longer anticipated to renew throwing till the irritation dissipates, which Greene urged might take so long as two weeks. With simply over a month left to go within the common season and Cincinnati’s playoff hopes this season distant at greatest, that timeline might name into query whether or not or not the hard-throwing righty will be capable of return this yr. As relayed by Wittenmyer, Greene was noncommittal about his timeline for return, although he did word he hopes to pitch once more this yr:
“I’ve no clue,” Greene mentioned when requested when he’ll be capable of return. “I’d like to have the ability to end with two or three extra begins, however I’ve bought to see how I really feel in a number of days or per week.”
Whereas it doesn’t at the moment seem assured that Greene will be capable of return to the massive league mound this season, it definitely can’t be dominated out. If Greene stays shut down for 2 weeks, he would resume throwing in early September. It’s not less than possible to think about that he would be capable of exit for a short rehab task in the midst of the month earlier than making a few begins within the last weeks of the season, although such a timeline would doubtless require no setbacks and a considerably restricted pitch depend for Greene upon his return.
No matter whether or not or not Greene is ready to make it again to the massive leagues this yr, the truth that his UCL stays undamaged and he figures to be absolutely wholesome for spring coaching 2025 is definitely heartening information for the Reds. Even when he doesn’t throw one other pitch for the membership this yr, Greene’s 2024 season has been an unequivocal success as he’s posted a dominant 2.83 ERA in 143 1/3 innings throughout 24 begins. Whereas Greene’s 9.1% stroll price and batted ball profiles have left superior stats considerably much less impressed along with his work this yr (3.41 FIP, 3.75 SIERA, 4.16 xFIP), his glorious outcomes are backed up by premium stuff that’s allowed him to put up a 27.8% strikeout price this yr.
With Greene’s breakout permitting the Reds to pencil a bonafide top-of-the-rotation arm into their rotation subsequent season, it’s not laborious to think about a lot brighter days forward in Cincinnati regardless of their lackluster 63-67 document this season. In spite of everything, the membership figures to profit not solely from the dynamic duo of Greene and Elly De La Cruz but in addition from returns to motion from key children like Matt McLain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand who had been hampered by accidents this yr.
