Hunter Greene was expected to be the cornerstone of the Cincinnati Reds’ rotation in 2025, but instead, he’s turned into one of the biggest uncertainties for a team struggling to remain competitive in the tight National League playoff race.
The 25-year-old power pitcher has been exceptional when healthy this season. In 11 starts, Greene has posted a 4–3 record with a 2.72 ERA over 59.2 innings, accumulating 73 strikeouts and limiting opponents to a 0.97 WHIP. His fastball still touches triple digits, his control has improved, and his overall stuff has been as dominant as expected. However, none of this matters if he can’t stay healthy and keep pitching.
Reds fans left in the dark as Hunter Greene suffers setback
What began as a promising season has been undermined by a series of frustrating setbacks. Greene has already been placed on the injured list twice due to a right groin strain—once in early May and again in early June. Just when it seemed like he was close to returning, another setback forced him to cancel a scheduled rehab start at Triple-A Louisville. The update that followed only added to the growing concern.
Instead of throwing in a game environment, Greene has now been sent to the Reds’ Arizona Complex League facility to continue rehabbing. Manager Terry Francona didn’t sugarcoat the uncertainty surrounding the situation. “We don’t really have a road map,” Francona told MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon. “When you ask a guy to go out, pitch, compete, and give it his all, he’s got to feel confident that when he lets it go he’ll be okay… He’ll be the only one that’s going to know that.”
For a pitcher who relies on elite velocity, groin injuries are particularly troubling. Without full trust in his lower body, Greene’s mechanics are at risk of being thrown off. At this point, even the Reds aren’t sure when he’ll be able to return.
Meanwhile, Cincinnati’s season is slowly slipping away. They’re hovering around .500, stuck in a tightly contested NL Central where the Brewers and Cubs are starting to pull ahead. Both St. Louis and Cincinnati now find themselves in the middle of the pack, scrambling for consistency and hoping for a Wild Card spot.
With the trade deadline looming and no clear timeline for Greene’s return, the Reds are entering a critical stretch. Their ace was supposed to be the cornerstone of the rotation, but now, his uncertain health might be the weight that drags them down.
Unless there’s a quick turnaround for both Greene and the rest of the staff, the Reds’ playoff hopes could evaporate by the end of July.
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