Hunter Greene situation leaves Reds fans demanding answers

There isn't a single fan throughout Reds Country who was shocked to hear that starting pitcher Hunter Greene had been sidelined with an injury. Greene spent two separate stints on the injured list last season, and durability issues have plagued the Cincinnati Reds ace throughout his professional career.

What was surprising, however, was the timeline. According to Greene, he began feeling discomfort in his right elbow toward the end of the 2025 season. Because of the Reds playoff push, however, Greene dismissed the aches and pains and played through it.

Most Reds fans would probably find that attitude admirable. Greene had been out for months with a hamstring injury last season, and with Cincinnati chasing a Wild Card berth, they needed their best pitcher on the mound for the stretch run. Greene was terrific, going 2-0 over the final month of the season with 38 strikeouts and a 2.64 ERA in September.

The Reds season ended just two games into the MLB Postseason, and Greene's implosion during Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series was a big reason why. The right-hander went just three innings and allowed five runs on six hits, including three round-trippers. Cincinnati lost the game by the final score of 10-5.

Why did Hunter Greene and the Reds wait so long to get an MRI?

The Reds' Wild Card loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers came on September 30. So one has to ask, if Greene felt elbow discomfort during his last five or six starts in 2025, why did he and the Reds wait more than five months to schedule an MRI? This is pure lunacy!

"I felt fine in the offseason," Greene said. "I got an injection. About a week before spring training started, the discomfort came back. I’ve been managing it through camp so far. We’re going to check it and get it looked at. It makes sense to do it now. I know I have bone spurs. As of now, there’s no UCL damage."

The last part of that quote is important. No UCL damage likely means Greene avoided serious injury, and perhaps some sort of 'cleanup' procedure will be warranted that will only sideline him for a couple of months. But this is still beyond frustrating for a Reds fanbase that just wants to see their best pitcher on the mound.

Greene has caught plenty of flack for his injury history, and it was a source of consternation for the Reds ace this offseason. Numerous trade rumors emerged this winter, and Greene appeared to take exception to what at least one local beat writer was reporting. Greene called the claims a "defamation of character."

Greene will see two doctors over the next week, so Reds fans should have more clarity sometime next week. But at this rate, it's difficult to see Greene beginning the season on the Reds Opening Day roster.