Hunter Greene to Undergo Elbow Surgery After 5 Starts in 2026 Season

Reds right-hander Hunter Greene is out for the remainder of 2026 due to a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his throwing arm. The 27-year-old pitcher concludes his 2026 campaign with a 2-2 record and a 6.83 ERA across 27.2 innings of work. This medical intervention follows a brief five-start stint that began on July 4 after he missed the first three months of the year recovering from a different procedure. The former No. 2 overall pick from the 2017 MLB draft officially moved to the injured list this past Wednesday following a reported bout of soreness during a routine Tuesday side session.

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Dr. Neal ElAttrache conducted the definitive evaluation in Los Angeles, confirming the structural failure of the ligament via MRI. This diagnosis comes only months after the same surgeon performed a March operation on Greene to remove bone chips from his right elbow. Manager Terry Francona disclosed that the high-velocity starter had been managing persistent physical discomfort since returning to the mound in mid-summer. The coaching staff urged the right-hander to prioritize a professional consultation rather than attempting to pitch through the pain, particularly given the stress his 100-mph fastball exerts on his joints.

Nick Krall, the Reds' president of baseball operations, verified on Friday that the upcoming surgical procedure will focus specifically on the compromised UCL. While the exact technique—whether a full reconstruction or a repair—remains unspecified, the timeline effectively removes Greene from the active roster for the duration of the current calendar year. The organization had previously banked on the flamethrower to lead a rotation that includes fellow All-Star Chase Burns, especially after the front office declined to move Greene during the summer trade deadline despite significant external interest.

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Financial stakes for the franchise are high, as Greene is currently playing under a six-year contract extension valued at $53 million signed in April 2023. That agreement features a $21 million club option for 2029, reflecting the team's long-term investment in his power-pitching profile. However, durability remains a recurring obstacle for the California native, who has yet to surpass 26 starts in any single Major League season. His medical history is extensive, including a 2018 Tommy John surgery performed during his tenure in the minor leagues.

Recent years have seen a pattern of interruptions for the Reds' ace, who earned his inaugural All-Star nod in 2024 before a six-week absence due to elbow inflammation. In 2023, his progress was halted by two separate stints on the injured list related to hip issues, while a groin strain limited his availability to just 19 starts in a prior season. Krall refrained from providing a specific return date for the 2027 season, noting that the recovery process for ligament-related surgeries is often variable and requires a cautious rehabilitation protocol.

Before the severity of the tear was confirmed, Greene had expressed a public desire to continue his rotation turns to help the club's late-season push. The sudden shift to a surgical path marks a significant blow to a Cincinnati pitching staff that has struggled to maintain consistency. With the 2026 season now a closed chapter for the right-hander, the focus shifts to a long-term recovery plan designed to preserve his career longevity. The Reds must now navigate the final months of the schedule without their primary strikeout threat, relying on a depleted depth chart to fill the void in the starting five.