Cincinnati Reds ace Hunter Greene was recognized on Wednesday.
As the Cincinnati Reds continue to establish themselves as one of baseball’s most exciting young teams, much of their optimism entering the upcoming season centers on the growth of their pitching staff.
While the Reds’ lineup often grabs attention, the rotation has quietly developed into the team’s biggest strength, led by the electric right arm of Hunter Greene. Entering the 2026 MLB season, Greene is no longer viewed as just a hard‑throwing curiosity. He is now firmly recognized as one of the game’s premier starting pitchers.
Greene’s rise has not been without setbacks. Injuries disrupted his availability last season and limited his ability to build consistent momentum, forcing the Reds to manage his workload carefully. Even so, Greene has already shown what his ceiling looks like at full strength.
In 2024, he earned his first All‑Star selection and finished eighth in National League Cy Young Award voting, a clear signal that he had arrived among the league’s elite pitchers after two disappointing years to begin his career.
That growth has been fueled by more than raw velocity which had been his defining trait as a prospect. Greene has steadily improved his command and secondary pitches, allowing him to pitch smarter and more efficiently.
When healthy, he has proven capable of dominating lineups while also handling the responsibility that comes with being the ace of a young staff.
That progress has not gone unnoticed on the national stage. During the early preseason buildup, Greene received major recognition from MLB Network on Wednesday as the tenth best pitcher in baseball. “Hunter Greene is the No. 10 starting pitcher on @MLBNow’s #Top10RightNow,” MLB Network wrote on X.
The ranking places Greene among the top arms in baseball and reflects how his performance has reshaped his reputation across the league.
Greene backed up that recognition with strong production in 2025, even while missing a few months of time. He posted a 2.76 ERA across 107 2/3 innings, finishing with a 7‑4 record and 132 strikeouts.
Those numbers highlighted both his dominance and efficiency, showing that when he was on the mound, he remained one of the most difficult pitchers to face in the National League.
For the Reds, Greene’s development has broader significance. His presence stabilizes a rotation filled with young arms and gives Cincinnati a legitimate frontline starter capable of matching up with any opponent.
As the team continues to push toward sustained contention, having a proven ace provides confidence and structure to the pitching staff.