Reds: 5 prospects who could open 2022 in the starting rotation

2. Hunter Greene, Reds right-handed pitcher

It’s hard to mention Nick Lodolo without also talking about his Chattanooga teammate Hunter Greene. The right-hander was the Cincinnati Reds’ first-round pick in 2017 and can consistently hit 100 MPH-plus on the radar gun.

Greene has the potential to be a No.1 starter, perennial All-Star, and face of the Reds franchise. That’s a lot of pressure to heap onto the shoulders of a 21-year-old, but Greene has the demeanor to handle it.

Hunter Greene, much like Lodolo, has dominated the competition at Double-A this season. The right-hander owns 1.69 ERA through four starts and has 33 strikeouts over 21.1 innings of work. Greene is an ace in the making.

After undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing the entire 2019 season, along with the absence of a minor league season in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, has slowed Greene’s development. However, the young hurler has looked anything but rusty during his brief stint in Double-A Chattanooga.

It’s questionable as to whether or not Greene will be part of the Cincinnati Reds Opening Day rotation in 2020, but it’s hard to envision the right-hander not seeing the major league field next season. He may be on an innings-restriction this season following his first extensive work since his surgery in 2019, but all signs point to Hunter Greene being in the Reds’ rotation in 2022.