Cincinnati Reds Receive Promising Hunter Greene Injury Update

The Cincinnati Reds entered Sunday holding a 33-36 record, sitting in last place in the National League Central.

The Reds started the year strong but have cooled off significantly since then and are now one of the worst teams in MLB. However, it would be hard for any team to overcome the number of injuries Cincinnati has dealt with on its starting pitching staff.

Left-hander Andrew Abbott is the only player on the projected Opening Day rotation to not spend time on the injured list this year. The biggest loss, of course, has been the team's ace, right-hander Hunter Greene, who has not pitched all season.

The 26-year-old flamethrower underwent surgery in early March to remove bone spurs and loose bodies from his right elbow. The injury originated in 2025, and Greene initially tried to manage it with a PRP injection, but the discomfort never subsided, leading to the procedure.

Since then, he has resumed throwing, progressing through a bullpen session in May and live batting practice in June. Now he is finally ready for real game action in the minor leagues.

"Hunter Greene will start a rehab assignment in Arizona on June 18," reported Charlie Goldsmith of FOX19.

When Greene begins his rehab assignment, he will likely be on it for quite some time, probably three to four weeks given how long he has been out. It will essentially serve as his own personal ramp-up period.

There is also no reason for the Reds to rush the process, especially if the team does not show signs of life in the standings before he is ready.

Greene's goal was to come back and help Cincinnati compete for a playoff spot again, as he did last year when he helped the team secure its first playoff berth since 2020. But by the time he is fully ready, it could already be too late for that.

Greene's 2025 campaign was also derailed by injuries, but when healthy, he was electric. He posted a sub-3.00 ERA in both 2024 and 2025, earned an All-Star selection and finished in the top 10 of National League Cy Young voting.

Getting him back healthy matters beyond just this season. For a Reds team built around a young core, having their ace fully right again is a building block for whatever comes next, even if this particular year does not end the way anyone in Cincinnati hoped.