cincinnati reds right handed batsman Hunter greenThe prospect, expected to be the team’s top player this season, will have an arthroscopic procedure on Wednesday to remove bone fragments and loose flesh from his right elbow and is not expected to return before July.
Green, 26, Left the Reds’ spring training camp. In Arizona on Wednesday due to elbow stiffness, returned to Cincinnati and underwent imaging in addition to consulting with specialists including Dr. Neal Elattrache.
“We’re going to miss him. There’s no way around it,” manager Terry Francona said Tuesday. “…I didn’t see anybody look like they were feeling sorry for themselves. It’s just the way of the game [for pitchers]”
Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said he expected Green to be ready to pitch in the majors in 14 to 16 weeks.
“It’s certainly good news compared to what could have been,” Kroll said. “…He would be like a trade-deadline acquisition.”
Green went 7-4 with a 2.76 ERA, but was limited to a career-low 19 starts and 107⅔ innings last season as Cincinnati earned its first playoff appearance since 2020. His average four-seam fastball velocity of 99.5 mph led the major leagues among those throwing at least 1,250 pitches, and his 296 pitches of 100 mph or more were second in the major leagues. Back mason miller (422).
He incorporated more lower body work into his offseason routine this year in hopes of avoiding injuries after two stints on the injured list in 2025.
Green is entering his fifth big league season. He made the NL All-Star team for the first time in 2024, going 9–5 with a 2.75 ERA in 26 starts. Despite spending time on the IL with elbow soreness that year, he had 169 strikeouts in 150⅓ innings.
Reds have tabbed the left-hander Andrew Abbott like there opening day starter at home against boston red sox On 26 March.
It’s the first Opening Day start for the 26-year-old Abbott, who was selected as an All-Star for the first time last year in his third season with the Reds.
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
