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Cincinnati Reds star Hunter Greene faced a major setback Tuesday when it was revealed he could miss up to four months after right elbow surgery.
Greene was diagnosed with bone chips and loose bodies in the elbow, the team said. He needed an MRI last week after leaving a spring training game with a stiff right elbow.
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Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene pitches against the Chicago Cubs in the second inning at Great American Ball Park on May 23, 2025. (Katie Stratman/Imagn Images)
He explained his situation in a statement posted to his Instagram stories. He said he began experiencing elbow discomfort toward the end of the 2025 season, but wanted to keep pitching in hopes of getting the Reds into the postseason. He said he received an MRI in Los Angeles after the season was over and it found the bone fragments, “but standard care was recommended.”
“I felt no discomfort a few days later and when I started my offseason throwing program I felt great,” he said. “However, the pain returned as I got closer to the start of camp and as I started throwing harder and manipulating pitches more. The irritation in my elbow is affecting my ability to finish and execute pitches without a sharp stabbing pain. I simply need to have the bone spurs removed.
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Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene reacts as Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernandez runs the bases on a three-run home run on September 30, 2025. (Sam Greene/The Enquirer-USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
“All I want to do is play the game I love and compete with my brothers as we head into the 2026 season. But it’s important that this procedure happens now instead of trying to pitch through it, not be sharp on the mound and risk further injury. Believe me, no one is more frustrated than I am.”
He said he will undergo the surgery on Wednesday.
Greene is one of the hardest pitchers in baseball. He had a 2.76 ERA with 132 strikeouts in 19 starts in 2025. He missed some time with a right groin strain. The issue sidelined him until August 13.
Cincinnati finished 83-79 and was third in the National League Central division.
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene pitches against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on May 28, 2025. (Jay Biggerstaff/Imagn Images)
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The 26-year-old was an All-Star in 2024 and finished that season with a 2.75 ERA and 169 strikeouts. He also experienced right elbow soreness that year and spent time on the injured list.
