The Cincinnati Reds announced Friday that right-hander Hunter Greene will undergo surgery on his right elbow after seeking a second opinion on the injury.
Team officials said the precise extent of the procedure will not be known until surgeons begin the operation. Greene has been diagnosed with a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament.
The 27-year-old was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday after reporting soreness following a bullpen session. He had an MRI in Cincinnati before traveling to Los Angeles for evaluation by Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
Greene returned to the mound this season after arthroscopic surgery in March to remove bone chips from the same elbow. He made five starts after his July 4 debut, finishing 2-2 with a 6.83 ERA, 33 strikeouts and nine walks over 27 2/3 innings.
This marks Greene’s second ligament procedure. He underwent Tommy John surgery on the right elbow while in the minor leagues in 2018.
Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said the ligament was failing and that doctors will determine the appropriate course once they operate.
“They’re going to go in there, find out what it is and go from there,” Krall said. “The ligament was failing. It’s going to be some sort of procedure around the ligament.”
Greene has shown elite potential when healthy. In 2024 he earned All-Star honors after posting a 2.75 ERA with 169 strikeouts in 150 1/3 innings across 26 starts.
The following year he maintained strong form with a 2.76 ERA and 132 strikeouts in 19 starts before a groin strain limited him. Over those two seasons he combined for a 2.76 ERA and 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings in 45 starts.
For his career, Greene is 27-31 with a 3.82 ERA and 650 strikeouts in 523 1/3 innings over 96 major league starts. He was selected second overall by the Reds in the 2017 draft out of Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California.
Injuries have interrupted his progress in each of his five big league seasons. He has appeared on the injured list at least once every year since his 2022 debut.
Greene’s fastball has regularly touched 100 miles per hour, and his strikeout rate has remained strong even in limited action this season at 10.7 per nine innings. His career mark sits at 11.2 strikeouts per nine.
The Reds sit in the middle of the National League Central standings and face questions about their rotation depth for the remainder of 2026. Greene’s absence removes one of the staff’s highest-upside arms.
A timeline for his return will depend on the surgical findings. Officials indicated the procedure is expected to end his season, with any impact on 2027 still undetermined.
Greene turned 27 on Thursday. The Reds and their fans will await further updates after the operation next week.
