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Cincinnati Reds star Hunter Greene faced a major setback Tuesday when it was revealed he could miss up to four months after surgery on his right elbow.
Greene was diagnosed with bone fragments and loose body parts in his elbow, the team said. He needed an MRI last week after leaving a spring training game with stiffness in his right elbow.
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Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene pitches against the Chicago Cubs in the second inning at Great American Ball Park on May 23, 2025. (Katie Stratman/Imagn Images)
He explained his situation in a statement posted to his Instagram Stories. He said he began experiencing elbow discomfort toward the end of the 2025 season, but wanted to continue pitching in hopes of getting the Reds to the playoffs. He said he had an MRI in Los Angeles at the end of the season and it found bone fragments, “but standard treatment was recommended.”
“I felt no discomfort a few days later, and as I began my off-season throwing program, I felt great,” he said. “However, the pain returned as I got closer to the start of camp and started throwing harder and manipulating pitches more. The irritation in my elbow is affecting my ability to complete and execute throws without sharp shooting pain. I simply need to have the bone spurs removed.
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Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene reacts as Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernandez runs the bases on a three-run homer on September 30, 2025. (Sam Greene/The Enquirer-USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
“All I want to do is play the game I love and compete with my brothers as we head into the 2026 season. But it’s important that this process happens now instead of trying to get through it, not being sharp on the mound and risking further injury. Trust me, no one is more frustrated than me.”
He said he would have surgery on Wednesday.
Greene is one of the hardest throwers in baseball. He had a 2.76 ERA with 132 strikeouts in 19 starts in 2025. He missed time with a right groin strain. This question kept him away until August 13.
Cincinnati finished 83-79 and third in the National League Central Division.
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene pitches against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on May 28, 2025. (Jay Biggerstaff/Imagn Images)
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The 26-year-old was an All-Star in 2024 and finished that season with a 2.75 ERA and 169 strikeouts. He also experienced soreness in his right elbow that year and spent time on the injured list.
