Reds fans panicking as Hunter Greene injury situation gets more concerning

Hunter Greene was supposed to be the stabilizer atop the Cincinnati Reds rotation in 2025. Instead, he’s become one of the bigger question marks on a team desperately trying to stay relevant in a brutal National League playoff race.

The 25-year-old flamethrower has been lights out when healthy this season. Through 11 starts, Greene posted a 4–3 record with a 2.72 ERA across 59.2 innings, racking up 73 strikeouts and holding opposing hitters to a 0.97 WHIP. His fastball continues to hit triple digits, his command has sharpened, and his overall arsenal has looked as dominant as anticipated. But none of it matters if he can’t stay healthy and on the mound.

Reds fans left in the dark as Hunter Greene suffers setback

What started as a promising campaign has been derailed by frustrating setbacks. Greene has already landed on the injured list twice with a right groin strain — first in early May, then again in early June. Just when it looked like he was nearing a return, a setback scrapped his scheduled rehab outing at Triple-A Louisville. The update that followed only fanned the flames.

Instead of throwing in a game environment, Greene has now been sent to the Reds’ Arizona Complex League facility to continue rehabbing. Manager Terry Francona didn’t sugarcoat the uncertainty surrounding the situation. “We don’t really have a road map,” Francona told MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon. “When you ask a guy to go out, pitch, compete, and give it his all, he’s got to feel confident that when he lets it go he’ll be okay… He’ll be the only one that’s going to know that.”

For a pitcher who thrives on elite velocity, groin issues are especially problematic. Without full confidence in his lower half, Greene’s mechanics could all be compromised. And at this stage, even the club doesn’t have a timeline on his return.

Meanwhile, the Reds are slowly watching their season slip toward the edge. They’re hovering around the .500 mark, trapped in a competitive NL Central where the Brewers and Cubs are beginning to pull away. St. Louis and Cincinnati now find themselves stuck in the middle, searching for consistency and scraping for Wild Card hope.

With the trade deadline approaching and no concrete timeline for Greene’s return, the Reds are entering dangerous territory. Their ace was supposed to be the backbone of the staff. Instead, his uncertain health may be the anchor that drags them under.

Unless things turn around quickly, both for Greene and the rotation, Cincinnati’s playoff aspirations could vanish by the end of July. 

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