Cincinnati Reds Opening Day pitcher Hunter Greene gave the big league club things to consider during his last rehab outing with Triple-A Louisville.
PITTSBURGH, PA − Cincinnati Reds Opening Day pitcher Hunter Greene gave the big league club something to consider during his last rehab outing with Triple-A Louisville. What direction the Reds go in with Greene remains to be seen.
The Reds on Aug. 9 didn't immediately announce the next step for Greene (groin), who's been on the injured list twice and last pitched June 3. Manager Terry Francona told reporters prior to the Aug. 9 Reds-Pirates game at PNC Park that the conversation with Greene was scheduled to take place later. It's possible the Reds have updates soon.
Until then, Greene's latest outing for the Louisville Bats Aug. 8 is out there to be dissected. His pitching line wasn't flawless but he definitely got plenty of work in.
Francona said Aug. 8 he wanted to see Greene throw up to 85 pitches. Greene went five and 1/3 innings, allowing five runs on two hits − both hits were home runs. Greene threw 79 pitches, and also walked three and struck out seven against the Toledo Mud Hens.
Greene, who utilized the automated ball-strike system to challenge his first pitch of the game, allowed a two-run homer in the first inning and a three-run homer in the third.
The first-inning homer came off the bat of 24-year-old Jace Jung, who was once a highly-rated prospect for the Detroit Tigers organization with a consensus top-100 ranking as a prospect.
Justyn-Henry Malloy hit the three-run homer off Greene. Both Jung and Malloy have spent time up with the Tigers this year.
The hope for the Reds is that Greene, a 2024 MLB All-Star and two-time Opening Day starter, could return in time to help swing the National League Wild Card race in Cincinnati's favor.
Starter Nick Lodolo is working through a 15-day IL stint (blister), and that bumped Nick Martinez out of the bullpen. Martinez's role evolved from being a starter to a swingman in the second half of the season. He embraced the change and has been widely lauded for it.
The trade-deadline acquisition of Zack Littell afford the Reds the luxury of moving Martinez to the bullpen.
When the Reds are at full strength with Greene, it's possible rookie Chase Burns could join Martinez in the bullpen through the end of 2025. Lodolo and Greene will both have to successfully return before any of that happens, though.
The Enquirer will update this report.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: The latest on Reds' Hunter Greene after his start for Triple-A Louisville
Category: Baseball
