Hunter Greene’s Season Is Over Early…Yet Again

It is a tale as old as time, unfortunately. This week, we learned that Hunter Greene will undergo surgery to repair a damaged UCL in his throwing arm, bringing his 2026 MLB season to an end and potentially putting his 2027 season in jeopardy as well (assuming we even have a season next year, given the possibility of a looming lockout).

Greene had previously undergone arthroscopic surgery during the preseason to remove bone chips from his elbow. Reds fans hoped that would mark the end of the injury rollercoaster for Hunter this year. Unfortunately, those hopes were quickly dashed when he began experiencing soreness again during a bullpen session earlier this week after attempting to pitch through the discomfort. Following early evaluations, Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall told the media that Greene’s ligament was failing and that surgery was the only option, although he declined to comment on the severity of the damage or any potential recovery timeline until after doctors complete the procedure.

It is yet another disappointing end to a season for Greene and Reds fans, who have waited so long for him to remain healthy long enough to fully capitalize on the talent he so clearly possesses. Unfortunately, that simply was not the case.

After making his season debut on July 4, Greene struggled on the mound, recording a 6.83 ERA across five starts and going 2-2 before being shut down. The 2017 No. 2 overall pick has spent time on the injured list in each of his five MLB seasons, in addition to undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2019. His best season came in 2024, when he earned an All-Star selection and finished eighth in NL Cy Young voting after posting a 2.75 ERA and an 8-5 record.

Since that season, however, he has made just 24 starts, going 9-6 with a 3.59 ERA over 135 innings.

Pitching at the major league level inherently carries significant risk, and injuries are an unfortunate part of that equation. At this point, though, after so many significant setbacks, it is reasonable to ask whether Greene should continue to be viewed as a major part of the Reds’ long-term plans and just how much the team can realistically expect from him as a potential anchor at the top of the rotation.

It is a question that has also followed Nick Lodolo throughout his Reds tenure, with blisters and other injuries sidelining him for much of 2026 after he missed significant portions of the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Chase Burns is on the rise, but at just 23 years old, he is still working to condition his arm to handle the demands of pitching deep into a major league season. The Reds have taken the prudent approach by being cautious with his innings, and the reality may be that Burns will ultimately have to lead this pitching staff during Greene’s extended absence.

Greene was reportedly available on the trade market this past month, although nothing ultimately materialized. This latest surgery could put an end to any serious discussion of moving him in exchange for an ace-level return. He is currently playing under what has generally been viewed as a very team-friendly six-year, $53 million contract, though the value of that deal could be reassessed depending on what Greene is able to do once he eventually returns to the mound, whether that comes in 2027 or sometime beyond.