Hunter Greene Departs Reds Camp for MRI Following Right Elbow Stiffness

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene has traveled to Cincinnati for an MRI on his throwing elbow after reporting stiffness during spring training.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene has officially departed spring training camp to undergo an MRI on his right elbow. Manager Terry Francona and president of baseball operations Nick Krall confirmed the medical departure on Wednesday morning, stating that the 25-year-old will be evaluated by team orthopedic consultant Dr. Timothy Kremchek in Cincinnati. Following that initial examination, the pitcher is scheduled for a second consultation with Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles to address the persistent stiffness reported in his throwing arm.

Greene enters the 2025 season coming off a career-best 2024 campaign where he earned his first National League All-Star selection. During that tenure, the former number two overall pick posted a 9-5 record and a 2.75 ERA across 150 1/3 innings of work. He struck out 169 batters in 26 starts, maintaining a 1.02 WHIP while holding opposing hitters to a .185 batting average. His performance was pivotal in keeping the Reds competitive, as he allowed two earned runs or fewer in 20 of his 26 appearances on the mound.

Statistically, the right-hander remains the hardest-throwing starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. In 2024, Greene led all qualified starters with an average four-seam fastball velocity of 99.5 mph. He threw 296 pitches clocked at 100 mph or higher, a total that ranked second in the majors behind only Oakland Athletics closer Mason Miller, who recorded 422 such heaters. This power profile is supported by a slider that generated a 34.2% whiff rate last season, serving as his primary secondary offering against both right-handed and left-handed hitters.

Durability has been a primary focus for the Cincinnati front office regarding their ace. In 2023, Greene was limited to 22 starts and 112 innings due to various physical setbacks. To address these concerns, the pitcher spent the most recent offseason in Arizona focusing on lower-body mechanics and functional strength. The goal was to reduce the kinetic stress on his ulnar collateral ligament by utilizing his 6-foot-5, 242-pound frame more efficiently during his high-velocity delivery.

Previous medical history for the righty includes a significant stint on the injured list during the 2023 season. On June 19 of that year, he was sidelined with right hip pain that eventually evolved into a stress reaction, keeping him out of major league action until August 20. Upon his return, he struggled with command, walking 14 batters in his first 12 1/3 innings back from the shelf. Despite these hurdles, he finished that season with 152 strikeouts, proving his ability to miss bats even when not at peak physical health.

In 2022, his rookie debut season, Greene showcased his ceiling by throwing 7 1/3 no-hit innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 15, despite the Reds eventually losing the game 1-0. He finished that inaugural year with a 5-13 record and a 4.44 ERA, but his 164 strikeouts in 125 2/3 innings hinted at the elite strikeout-per-nine-inning ratios that would define his later success. He also set a major league record that year by throwing 39 pitches of 100 mph or faster in a single game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The current diagnostic timeline involves immediate imaging followed by a review of the structural integrity of the elbow. Nick Krall noted that the team will not speculate on a recovery window until both Dr. Kremchek and Dr. ElAttrache have reviewed the scans. This cautious approach follows a 2024 season where Greene missed nearly three weeks in August due to elbow soreness, an issue the team initially characterized as fatigue before he returned to finish the season with two scoreless starts in September.

Cincinnati’s rotation depth will be tested immediately if the MRI reveals significant damage. Behind Greene, the Reds rely on Nick Lodolo and Andrew Abbott, both of whom have dealt with their own respective injury histories over the last 24 months. Lodolo was limited to just 115 innings in 2024 due to a finger strain and a groin issue, while Abbott saw his velocity dip slightly in the final month of the previous season. The loss of Greene would remove a starter who accounted for 17.4% of the team’s total strikeouts last year.

Financial stakes are also high for the organization, as Greene is currently playing under a six-year, $53 million contract extension signed in April 2023. This deal, which could reach a total value of $95 million with options and escalators, was intended to anchor the Cincinnati pitching staff through the 2028 season. The contract includes a $21 million club option for 2029, reflecting the team's long-term commitment to the California native as their franchise cornerstone.

As the Reds await the results from Cincinnati and Los Angeles, the focus in Goodyear shifts to non-roster invitees and young prospects who may need to fill the void. The club has not yet named an Opening Day starter, a role Greene was widely expected to fill for the second time in his career. His previous Opening Day nod came in 2023, where he threw 3 1/3 innings against the Pirates, allowing three runs while striking out eight. The outcome of this week's medical evaluations will dictate whether the Reds must pivot their entire pitching strategy for the first half of the 2025 calendar.