Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene, who was expected to be the team’s ace this season, will have a procedure Wednesday to remove bone chips from his right elbow and is not expected to return until July, a source confirmed to ESPN amid multiple reports.
Greene, 26, left the Reds’ spring training camp in Arizona on Wednesday due to elbow stiffness, returned to Cincinnati and underwent imaging in addition to seeing specialists, including Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
Greene went 7-4 with a 2.76 ERA, but was limited to a career-low 19 starts and 107⅔ innings last season as Cincinnati earned its first playoff appearance since 2020. His 99.5 mph average four-seam fastball velocity led the major leagues among those throwing at least 1,250 pitches, and his 296 pitches of 100 mph or higher were second in the major leagues behind Mason Miller (422).
He added more lower-body work to his offseason routine this year in hopes of avoiding injuries after two stints on the injured list in 2025.
Greene is entering his fifth big league season. He made the NL All-Star team for the first time in 2024 while going 9-5 with a 2.75 ERA in 26 starts. He also had 169 strikeouts in 150 1/3 innings despite spending time on the IL that year with elbow soreness.
The Reds have tabbed left-hander Andrew Abbott as their Opening Day starter at home against the Boston Red Sox on March 26.
It’s the first Opening Day start for Abbott, 26, who was selected as an All-Star for the first time last year in his third season with the Reds.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
