Hunter Greene's injury could change the timeline for Reds top prospects

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene is scheduled to miss the first three to four months of the 2026 season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery earlier this week. Greene's extended absence could drastically affect several of of the team's top pitching prospects, with a handful getting a call-up to the big leagues sooner than they once thought.

The battle for the final spot in the Reds starting rotation is still ongoing. The trio of Rhett Lowder, Chase Burns, and Brandon Williamson are still trying to impress the coaching staff and doing everything they can to prove that they belong on the Reds Opening Day roster.

Chase Petty and other Reds prospects could benefit from Hunter Greene's absence

But a few of the Reds top prospects were already reassigned to Minor League camp. Right-handers like Chase Petty and Julian Aguiar will be looking to get back to the bigs after whetting their appetite, and right-hander Jose Franco is eagerly anticipating his chance to don the wishbone "C" on his cap for the first time in the major leagues.

Petty made his big-league debut last season, but it was one that he'd just as soon forget. The former first-round draft pick, who was traded to Cincinnati in 2022, made three appearances in 2025. In total, he logged just six innings of work, struck out seven batters, and walked eight. Petty allowed an alarming 13 earned runs and saw three balls leave the yard. His current career-ERA is a ghastly 19.50.

The young hurler will be eager to put last season in the rearview mirror, and he was solid during his first two spring outings of the year before being optioned to Triple-A. Petty should be one of the five arms in the Louisville Bats rotation to open the season and could be called upon if there's an injury or one of the Reds starters falters.

Aguiar is returning to the Reds after missing the 2025 season following Tommy John surgery. He made his big league debut in 2024, striking out 19 batters over seven starts, and posting a 6.25 ERA. The upcoming season will be all about getting back to form for the 24-year-old. Aguiar shook off the rust in Cactus League play, but will need some consistent work in the minors before he's ready to return to the big leagues this season.

Franco will be a fun arm to follow all season. Coming off a successful minor league season in 2025, he could be the first of this group of pitchers who's called upon. Franco is a strikeout pitcher who needs to show he can keep the base paths clear of free runners, but he posted a 3.11 ERA and recorded 118 strikeouts in 110 innings pitched last season. He's itching to prove that his stuff will translate to the big leagues and may get his chance later this season.

Without Greene on the active roster, an extra one of Lowder, Burns, or Williamson is going to make the Reds Opening Day roster. That's one less hurdle for the trio of young Reds prospects to overcome, and it gives Reds manager Terry Francona a bit of a security blanket if injuries befall his group of starters.