Reds ace Hunter Greene will undergo surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow today, per Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer. The team is hoping to have him back at some point in July. He’ll be placed on the 60-day injured list whenever Cincinnati needs to open a spot on the 40-man roster.
The Reds revealed late last week that they’d sent Greene for multiple waves of imaging and hoped to have further news early this week. Greene himself said at the time that he’s navigated bone spurs for some time but had recently received a clean MRI on his ulnar collateral ligament. Doctors hadn’t recommended surgery for the bone chips until this point. He experienced some pain late last season, and doctors recommended an injection at the time. That allowed Greene to have a normal offseason, but he experienced renewed discomfort upon ramping up in camp and will now head under the knife.
Greene is far from the only pitcher in MLB to pitch through some known bone spurs or loose bodies in his elbow. Most professional pitchers have some degree of wear and tear in their elbow and/or shoulder, be it bone chips or mild damage to a ligament, flexor tendon, rotator cuff, labrum, etc. Reds fans will surely feel frustration that the discomfort dates back to last season but is being addressed in 2026. Surgery is a last-resort option, however, and hadn’t been recommended until this latest wave of discomfort set in.
Losing Greene is a gut-punch for a Reds rotation that had looked like one of the game’s strongest, on paper. He was in line to start Opening Day and be followed by Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, Brady Singer and one of Chase Burns or Rhett Lowder, both former top-10 picks in the draft and highly touted top prospects. Greene’s injury now opens the door for both Burns and Lowder to make the staff — particularly after Chase Petty was optioned yesterday — although left-hander Brandon Williamson remains in camp and could be an option as he returns from a 2025 season lost to injury.
A former No. 2 overall draft pick, Greene has been one of the game’s best pitchers on a rate basis over the past two seasons. However, he’s also missed considerable time due to a pair of groin strains in 2025 and some elbow discomfort in 2024. He’s started 45 games across dating back to ’24 and worked to a 2.76 ERA with a 29.2% strikeout rate, 8.1% walk rate and 33.5% ground-ball rate. Last year’s 15.4% swinging-strike rate was fourth-best in MLB (min. 100 innings pitched), trailing only Tarik Skubal, Dylan Cease and Logan Gilbert.
Greene is entering the fourth season of a six-year, $53MM extension. The 26-year-old is being paid $8MM this season before making $15MM and $16MM in 2027-28. The Reds hold a $21MM club option (with a $2MM buyout) over his 2029 season. With Greene on the shelf to begin the year, Abbott has been named the Reds’ Opening Day starter. President of baseball operations Nick Krall said last week at the time Greene was being sent for an MRI that he didn’t envision turning to free agency even in the event that Greene would be sidelined for a significant period of time.
Take as much time as you need Hunter.
He’s taken like 4 yrs at this point
That’s because he’s needed 4 years. Wish he didn’t get hurt so often, I’m sure he feels the same way.
I suppose it’s inappropriate to ask where those bone chips were last November?
Liberal hoax? Probably.
What do your prefer with your Bone Chips: Bone Salsa or Bone Queso?
Should have traded him when they had the chance. They won’t be able to afford him longterm. I feel the same way about Skenes. Mets should have emptied the farm for him. Peralta is nice but Skenes is could be one of the best ever
They gave him an early extension. Yes they won’t have him for ten years, but they’ll have some time with him. Should every team that’s not a huge market just trade all their good players since they can’t afford them as free agents? Try to win while you have them.
Skenes wasn’t available. He’s the very definition of untouchable.
Skenes is hardly untouchable. Absent Griffin turning into Bobby Witt Jr. AND the addition of considerable major league talent (not the garbage heap Lowe’s and Ozuna’s of the world), he’d have no incentive to stay. Even if they somehow back the Brinks truck up for him. Fact of the matter is they aren’t a serious team by any metric
He’s untouchable now.
I think their contract for him is quite the steal, honestly. Prior to knowing of these injuries, if they had to go to arbitration with him they’d likely pay him more than the $53M they’re paying him, and certainly more for his first year of free agency. And they’ll likely get him a huge return at the trade deadline in 2028 if he’s healthy and they’re not contending.
spoken like a true moron. 3 years + and option year left on contract…..at a bargain rate. so…..they won’t be able to afford him in 2030? Great observation
The user name shows the perspective. All large market fans think they should get all the good players and not wait for free agency.
Is Bone Guacamole an option?
Expected something like this. Hopefully he will be back to form and stay on the field after this is all done. I think July is overly optimistic, though. The Reds tend to undersell when it comes to saying how long they will be out.
Yelp. If the Reds say July they mean 2027.
reds….not the worst news at all. structure is sound….2nd half fresh Greene does not suck….whos gonna get a better “trade deadline ” arm? answer: nobody
I have learned not to listen to the Reds time frame and expect to see them when I see them. But yes, a great add whenever he comes back.
See you in 2027 or in 2028 if there is a lockout.
Combine all the bone chips from Spencer Schwellenbach, Huston Waldrep, and Hunter Green and you could probably make a new elbow
Rodon as well.
Thanks for waiting 5 1/2 months after the season ended to take care of this since you said it was a problem the last month of the season.
Most guys get their bone chips cleaned up in the off season instead of the wait and see approach.
We have seen this a lot with the Reds over the years though with pitchers, “oh he just needs rest, not surgery” and then during the season suddenly a guy is missing the year.
In Reds speak “July” means out for the season.
We will see what Rhett Lowder and Chase Burns are made of. Best case is we won’t really miss him.
not true
Lowder was expected back in May last year. He next pitched in the fall league. True story
Damn shame he can never stay healthy. One of the best arms in the game too. Maybe his career will be beneficial if he moves to a closer if this keeps occuring.
Quick recovery young man… But I can’t help but think, another pitcher linked to Boston in trade rumors…first Ryan now Greene all the while…..Duran could hit Sandy and Bob in their prime right now…( not Brais) some of the best trades are ones not made….
Greene wasn’t gonna be traded imo, certainly not for Duran. And if he actually makes it back healthy in July it’ll be perfect timing for the team.
Goodbye season, Reds.
Lmao. Greene miss half a season, EVERY SEASON. Any success the Reds have had was not based around Greene. In fact, Greene is building a track record of not being able to show out for a big spotlight moment type game. Reds have now solved their problem of figuring out the hardest decision spring training baseball has to offer: Burnes OR Lowder? Now it’s Burnes AND Lowder
This sucks!
This news provides plenty of opportunity for all the posters on this site whose sole purpose is to condemn the Reds organizatio from top to bottom . That ground will be covered. Otoh, it could be pointed out that not trading Brady Singer or Nick Lodolo is very wise in retrospect. If the Reds are incontention post ASB, Greene’s return to the rotation should be a big help. If they are not in contention, it won’t really matter when he returns. There’s just a lot of opportunity for Burns, Lowder, Williamson, Aguiar, and Petty between now and then.
If the Reds front office wasn’t always doing stupid things commenters wouldn’t have such an opportunity.
Giants dangled Eldridge out there. Him and Ramos wouldn’t made the perfect package for Greene. Reds FO thou…..
The best ability is availability.
@HoleCamels. Do you really think the Pirates are trying to win and done enough to keep Skenes long term? Pirates need to spend more on better players. Skenes won’t be their longterm with Pittsburgh track record. So why not trade him now to the highest bidder. Get 4-5 good players for one great Skenes. Those 5 players would fill a lot of holes and could actually be a better team without him.
That’s the typical blather we get from Yankees fans. I’ll salute you in not naming the “4 or 5 good players” in your posting as others often do. Those names are often good for laughs
And that’s the rub. Everyone wants Skenes. Everyone uses your logic. But no franchise is gonna back up the truck and place a large number of its top prospects in the back
You’re right. They aren’t going to be able to keep Skenes in the future. And if Griffin pans out, it’s likely they’ll lose him eventually too. That’s just large market versus small market reality. For the time being though, I’m gonna enjoy seeing them in Pirates uniforms
Hey. Why was this comment here anyway?
Nick Castellanos approves this message. /s
Greene is so good. But why can’t he just stay healthy?
The ability to stay healthy is itself as much a skill of the game. Some guys just aren’t built to have that.
Hunter “Half Season” Greene
Brutal news, sorry to hear for Hunter and for Reds.
Not even a Reds fan and I think this sucks. Hope he comes back strong!