The Reds announced this morning that they’ve activated right-hander Hunter Greene from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start against the Pirates later today. Right-hander Alan Busenitz was designated for assignment in order to clear a roster spot for Greene. The club’s 40-man roster now stands at 39.
Greene, 25, signed a six-year extension with the Reds in April of last year that keeps the right-hander under club control through the 2029 season. His first year after signing that extension was a somewhat lackluster one as he pitched to a 4.82 ERA (97 ERA+) while being limited to just 112 innings of work by injuries. The youngster has turned things around in a big way with a breakout performance this year, however, and in doing so has become a major bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season for fans in Cincinnati.
In 143 1/3 innings of work to this point in the year, Greene has posted a incredible 2.83 ERA (155 ERA+) while striking out an excellent 27.8% of batters faced. Some of Greene’s good results have been thanks to good fortune on his part, as demonstrated by a deflated .243 BABIP for opposing hitters and the fact that just 6.6% of the hurler’s fly balls have left the yard for home runs this year despite his home ballpark being the most homer-happy field in the majors. With that being said, advanced metrics are also generally impressed with Greene as demonstrated by his 3.41 FIP and 3.76 SIERA. It’s a season that could even earn Greene some down-ballot attention in NL Cy Young award voting this year, as his aforementioned sterling ERA trails only Chris Sale and Zack Wheeler among NL starters with at least 140 innings of work this year.
Whatever chance Greene may have had at the award was put to bed by a trip to the IL due to elbow soreness back in August, however. A subsequent MRI revealed no structural in a huge relief for the club, but inflammation in the hard-throwing righty’s elbow has still kept him on the shelf for more than a month. His time on the shelf has ended now, though, and with just a few games left in the regular season Greene is slated this afternoon to go toe-to-toe with another up-and-coming ace in the NL Central: Pirates righty Paul Skenes, who has posted an eye-popping 2.07 ERA with a 32.2% strikeout rate in 126 frames this year.
As for Busenitz, the 34-year-old righty has pitched briefly for the Reds in each of the past two seasons. In seven innings of work for the club last year, he looked quite good with a 2.57 ERA and 2.29 FIP, but things have taken a turn for the worse this year as he’s surrendered seven runs (six earned) on nine hits while striking out three across four innings of work in the majors. Things have gone better for him at Triple-A, however, where he’s posted a decent 4.07 ERA in 66 1/3 innings of work this year. Assuming Busenitz isn’t claimed off waivers, he’ll likely head to free agency either in the coming days or this November and search for a fresh minor league deal on the open market.
I guess if he is going to blow out his arm again, it is better to find out now versus the spring or next season. They need a confirmation his arm is sound. (as best as can be done at this point).
Is there any need to risk his career for 2 starts ? The team is eliminated !
I almost wonder if the front office couldn’t resist the chance to sell some extra tickets today with Greene vs. Skeens? I know that they probably didn’t have the logistics totall worked-out, but I am sure they are happy now that he was activated. I agree though, he should have just been shut down to rest for the rest of the season.
What are you guessing on extra tickets? 50 is my guess. The vast majority of fans are more interested in football now that they are eliminated. Hell, probably since the AllStar game. Even this management knows that. Greene wanted to come back.
All of MLB needs to quit babying players. If they can’t go 200 to 250 innings with ease, they sure as hell aren’t worth what they are getting paid.
Again, this may just be hapchance, but they drew nearly 35K on the day Skeenes and Greene pitched (Sunday) vs 25k the day before (Saturday).
The one open spot on the 40 man should have gone to Votto so the fans could have had one last chance to say goodbye today.
Hopefully he is hitting coach or Larkin’s replacement next year.
Responses on this site are hilarious. Last I heard Reds are paying Hunter Greene $3 1/3 MM to pitch baseball – not when they are in contention, or when they can sell more tickets, or even when a couple great outings might put Greene nearer the top in Cy Young voting. From reporting date in February until the end of the season. Testing his arm in September is just as valid as in the spring.
Whatever his 2024 salary might be, this is all about maximizing value over the next 4-5 years. To which the team has already committed roughly $50M. If they think bringing him back and building on a few more innings helps better prepare him for next year and beyond, then that’s what they’ll do.
I really thought Alan Busenitz was just hitting his stride.