Hunter Greene has emerged as the most valuable player on the Cincinnati Reds.
The Cincinnati Reds should be incredibly thankful for the emergence of their ace, right-hander Hunter Greene. At just 26 years old, Greene has become one of the most valuable pieces in the organization and a symbol of what the franchise hoped for when it selected him second overall in the 2017 MLB Draft out of Notre Dame High School.
Once viewed as a hard-throwing phenom with raw potential, Greene has steadily evolved into one of the National League’s most feared pitchers. He made his MLB debut in 2022 and showed flashes of brilliance while working through the growing pains common to young power arms. By 2024, everything clicked. Greene took a massive leap forward, earning his first All-Star selection and finishing eighth in National League Cy Young Award voting.
His ability to pair elite velocity with improved command and a devastating slider turned him into a legitimate ace. That dominance carried into 2025. Although injuries limited him to 19 starts, Greene still posted a stellar 2.76 ERA, his second consecutive season under 3.00, while striking out 132 batters in just 107.2 innings of work. His performance played a crucial role in helping Cincinnati reach the MLB playoffs for the first time since 2020, cementing his importance to the club’s resurgence.
Beyond his on-field production, Greene gives the Reds something every franchise covets: flexibility. Thanks to the six-year, $53 million contract extension he signed in April 2023, Cincinnati controls Greene through the 2028 season, with a club option for 2029. That team-friendly deal makes him one of the most valuable pitchers in baseball relative to cost.
He has also emerged as a clubhouse leader, often mentoring younger pitchers while setting a standard for preparation, accountability and competitiveness throughout the staff. If the Reds ever decide to pivot or retool, Greene would instantly become one of the best trade chips in the league, capable of fetching a massive return of prospects or young MLB-ready talent.
At the same time, the Reds should be grateful because Greene represents stability and upside. He is still young, still developing and has not yet reached his full ceiling. His work ethic, leadership and electric stuff give Cincinnati a potential rotation anchor for years to come. Whether he remains a franchise focal point or a premium asset in a future trade, Greene places the Reds in an enviable position built around talent, control and long-term promise.