The Cincinnati Reds have received some devastating news regarding one of the most talented pitchers on their roster. Right-hander Hunter Greene will undergo elbow surgery, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, bringing an early end to his 2026 season and potentially putting much of his 2027 campaign in jeopardy.
The exact procedure won’t be known until doctors examine Greene’s elbow during surgery.
Greene Faces Another Major Elbow Surgery
Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall told reporters that the operation will involve Greene’s elbow ligament. At this point, it remains unclear whether the 26-year-old will need another Tommy John surgery or an internal brace procedure.
The distinction is significant, but neither option provides good news for Cincinnati.
An internal brace procedure could potentially allow Greene to return in roughly 12 months if his recovery goes perfectly. Tommy John surgery typically requires closer to 14 months in today’s game.
This would also be the second UCL surgery of Greene’s career. The former No. 2 overall pick underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019, before making his MLB debut.
Reds Now Face a Major Financial Problem
Greene’s 2026 season ends after just 27 2/3 innings, during which he posted a 6.83 ERA over five starts.
That’s a disappointing season, but it shouldn’t overshadow what Greene has accomplished when healthy.
The 6-foot-5 right-hander broke out in 2024 and 2025, posting a 2.76 ERA, 29.2% strikeout rate and 8.1% walk rate across 45 starts and 258 innings.
Greene is currently in the fourth season of a six-year, $53 million extension. His contract calls for a $15 million salary in 2027, which now becomes a significant sunk cost for a Reds organization that traditionally operates with one of MLB’s lower payrolls.
Cincinnati did listen to trade offers on Greene before the deadline, but ultimately couldn’t find a deal.
Whether teams were unwilling to meet the Reds’ asking price, concerned about Greene’s elbow, or some combination of both is unknown.
Now it doesn’t matter.
The Reds have lost their flamethrowing ace for a significant period, and Cincinnati must hope Greene can successfully navigate another lengthy rehabilitation and eventually return to the dominant pitcher he showed he could be in 2024 and 2025.
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