Reds Injury Update: Hunter Greene timeline, Rhett Lowder rehab, veteran ramping up

Injuries have crushed the Cincinnati Reds this season. Veteran starter Wade Miley was going to need a few extra weeks to get ready for the 2025 season after undergoing surgery in 2024. Cincinnati, however, had no idea that they were going to lose Hunter Greene not even two months into the season.

Greene suffered a groin strain earlier this month which caused the right-hander to leave his last start prematurely. Greene appeared to have taken another step forward in his growth as a frontline starter, so the injury was incredibly devastating for the entire Reds' starting rotation.

Greene's absence forced an unprepared Chase Petty into duty, and while he's performed admirably, the young rookie hurler still has a lot to learn. Reds manager Terry Francona made the decision ahead of Saturday's game against the Cleveland Guardians to use Brent Suter as an opener before handing the keys over to Petty in the second or third inning.

Reds starter Hunter Greene is scheduled to throw a bullpen session

But it would seem that Greene is on the mend. FanDuel Sports reporter Jim Day informed viewers during Friday night's game against the Guardians that Greene was already throwing off flat ground and is now ready for the next step in the process.

Greene is slated to throw a bullpen session this weekend, and if that all goes well, there's a chance that the Reds' ace could return to the bump as soon as this week. Obviously, the Reds coaching and medical staffs will want to see how Greene recovers before proclaiming him ready to return, but Day noted that a rehab stint may not be necessary.

Rhett Lowder's rehab moves to Louisville, and Jeimer Candelario is ramping up

Another Reds starter who's been sidelined is Rhett Lowder. The former first-round pick suffered an elbow injury that has kept him on the IL since the season began. Lowder reported to camp this spring and was almost immediately shutdown.

The Wake Forest product has since made two rehab appearances — one at the Arizona Complex League and another at High-A Dayton — going six innings and striking out 10 batters while allowing six earned runs on nine hits. Lowder's next start, however, will come at Triple-A Louisville. The righty will pitch against top-level competition on Saturday as he continues to recover from his offseason ailment.

Jeimer Candelario, on the other hand, has begun ramping up for his return to the big leagues and was seen throwing on the field earlier this week. Candelario, whose 2025 season had been abysmal at the outset, has been on the IL with a back injury. He'll now head to the team's training facility in Goodyear before beginning a rehab assignment in the coming weeks.

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