Hunter Greene’s Rehab Start Doesn’t Go as Planned — Reds Face Big Decision Next

 

Hunter Greene took the mound for his second rehab start with Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday — and it didn’t go as smoothly as hoped.

The Reds’ hard-throwing right-hander allowed four runs on five hits over 2 1/3 innings. He threw 50 pitches, didn’t issue a walk, and struck out six.

It was Greene’s first Triple-A appearance since last week’s Arizona Complex League outing. He’s been sidelined since June 3 with a groin strain and was originally scheduled to begin his rehab earlier this month, but a minor setback pushed him back to the Reds’ complex in Arizona for more recovery time.

Despite the rough outing, Greene’s return to the big-league rotation would be a significant boost. The 25-year-old has a 2.72 ERA through 11 starts this season and remains a key piece of Cincinnati’s long-term plans.

He’s expected to make at least one more start in Louisville before the Reds determine if he’s ready to return.

Once Greene is back, Cincinnati will face an intriguing decision: who gets bumped from the rotation? Chase Burns and Nick Martinez are the likely candidates, but the Reds aren’t tipping their hand just yet.

For now, all eyes remain on Greene’s progress — and whether his next outing sharpens the case for his return.