One bizarre Reds stat further emphasizes frustrating Hunter Greene reality

Hunter Greene's disappointing 2026 season has been well chronicled. The flamethrower was shutdown barely a week into spring training after complaining of elbow discomfort. Further testing revealed Greene needed to undergo surgery, and the Cincinnati Reds were without their ace for the first three months of the season.

After an arthroscopic procedure to remove bone spurs and loose bodies from his right elbow, Greene began a rehab assignment and returned to the active roster on Independence Day. There were no fireworks, however, after the right-hander lasted just 3⅓ innings and gave up eight runs.

Greene looked more like his old self during his second start of the 2026 season. He went seven frames against a very talented Chicago Cubs lineup and gave up just three hits on 93 pitches and didn't allow a run to dent the plate. Greene also racked up a dozen Ks in what would be his best performance of the season.

Unfortunately, Greene made just three more starts before another elbow injury forced him onto the IL once again — this time for the rest of the season. The fireballer suffered a torn UCL and underwent Tommy John surgery in August. Greene isn't expected to return to the Reds' rotation until 2028.

In total, Greene managed to cover just 27⅔ innings on the season — the lowest total of his career — and owns a 6.83 ERA. Backup catcher Jose Trevino made his sixth appearance as a pitcher on the season this past Wednesday in the Reds' blowout loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Trevino's six trips to the mound in 2026 are more than Greene recorded this season.

Jose Trevino has pitched in more games than Reds starter Hunter Greene

That one anomaly is really a microcosm of the Reds' entire season, isn't it? Cincinnati's been so bad — 34 losses by five runs or more this season (h/t to Lance McAllister of 700 WLW) — that Trevino has been called upon for mop up duty six times this year. Keep in mind, in order for a position player to pitch, the team must be trailing by eight or more runs. Is it any wonder why Cincinnati has the third-worst run differential in the league (-122).

Furthermore, Greene's absence had a domino effect on the entire starting rotation this season. Without Greene, the Reds initially planned to roll out a six-man rotation in March/ April. Nick Lodolo then missed a month with a blister, and upon his return, and overworked Brandon Williamson was saddled with a trip to the 60-day IL after suffering a shoulder injury. Fellow starter Rhett Lowder made a trip to IL this season as well.

Thankfully, Chase Burns had an All-Star caliber season; otherwise, who knows how bad this Reds' pitching staff would've been. Even still, it's been bad enough that players like Kent Emanuel, Lyon Richardson, and Chris Paddack made meaningful starts for a team with postseason aspirations.

The Reds' 2026 season has been nothing short of a disappointment, and with Greene already slated to miss the 2027 campaign, fans aren't necessarily looking forward to Opening Day next spring.

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