Reds News: Hunter Greene timeline, Alfredo Duno grand slam, ex-Rangers outfielder signs

The Cincinnati Reds are reeling, having dropped yet another series, and are in need of some good news. Hunter Greene provided some positive vibes over the weekend with the news of his upcoming rehab assignment that's set to begin this week in Arizona.

The Reds are sending Greene to the Arizona Complex League on Thursday, June 18 where he's expected to throw about three innings. If all goes well, Cincinnati expects to shift his rehab to Triple-A Louisville beginning on June 23.

Reds News: Hunter Greene ahead of schedule after surgery

This is about the best news the Reds could've received, with all signs pointing toward Greene's return sometime during the month of July. There's even a slight chance that the flamethrower is back on the bump before the end of June, but that seems a tad optimistic.

Greene was sidelined during spring training after being diagnosed with loose bodies in his right elbow. He underwent arthroscopic surgery in March, and the recovery was always expected to last about three to four months.

The Reds have struggled mightily over the past six weeks, and Greene's absence is undoubtedly a big reason why. Though many fans will point to the countless bullpen implosions and the lineup's inability to come up big with runners in scoring position, the fact of the matter is that Greene's presence in the rotation can help in both of those areas.

Greene is an elite pitcher, much like current Reds' star Chase Burns. Having Greene and Burns atop the rotation will help ease the stress on both the bullpen and the lineup, and could help Cincinnati climb back into the playoff picture. At the moment, the Reds are sitting at the bottom of the NL Central and are four games back of the final NL Wild Card spot.

Reds News: Alfredo Duno stay hot with his second grand slam in a week

It's not hyperbole to suggest that Alfredo Duno is the most exciting Reds prospect since Elly De La Cruz burst onto the scene in 2022. And, there's an outside chance that the hype surrounding the club's top young talent will eventually overtake the buildup that encompassed De La Cruz in 2023.

Duno did nothing to silence the noise this past week with another otherworldly performance for the Dayton Dragons. The Reds' top prospect went 8-for-26 over the last six games with three of those hits going for extra-bases, including two home runs; both were grand slams.

Reds fans are running out of exciting things to say about Duno. Since May 1, he's hitting .292/.395/.623 with 12 home runs and 28 RBI. It won't be long before he's on his way to Double-A Chattanooga.

Reds News: Cincy signs former Rangers OF Sam Haggerty to MiLB deal

The Reds added former Texas Rangers outfielder Sam Haggerty to their Triple-A roster over the weekend. The 32-year-old was recently DFA'd by Texas and signed a minor-league deal with Cincinnati.

Haggerty brings a veteran bat to the organization, but he's hit just .159/.213/.182 in 36 games for the Rangers this season. This is little more than a depth signing to help offset the recent losses of Rece Hinds and Christian Encarnacion-Strand.

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