This afternoon the Cincinnati Reds made it official and sent right-handed pitcher Hunter Greene on a rehab assignment where he joined the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Reds. Greene is coming back from elbow surgery after having bone spurs removed during March while in spring training.
After working his way back to the mound and going through the rehab process on Thursday night Hunter Greene took the mound in a game for the first time this season. Facing players much younger than he is, Greene dominated the Arizona Complex League Cubs. Working for 4.0 innings, Greene gave up two singles, no runs, walked one, and he struck out six batters. The Reds righty threw 54 pitches in his outing with 39 of them being for strikes.
His first pitch of the night was 99.4 MPH. His final pitch was 98.5 MPH. In between there he pounded the zone, topping out at 101.1 MPH with his fastball and mixing in both his slider and his splitter. His 25 fastballs averaged 99.1 MPH, while he threw 20 of them for strikes. The slider was thrown for strikes on 15 of the 18 he used on the night. Greene also threw 11 splitters and four of them were strikes.
Generally speaking, pitchers on rehab assignments add one inning each time out. That usually means an additional 15-20 pitches on top of their previous game. For Greene, you would think that he won’t get back to the big leagues until he’s ready to throw at least 85+ pitches. Given his 54 pitches over four innings, Greene likely has two or three more starts on a rehab assignment.
If the team keeps Hunter Greene pitching every 5th day moving forward with his rehab he would take the mound again on Tuesday. The game after that would be on Sunday, June 28th. After that it would be Friday July 3rd.
The initial timeline for Greene to return was 14-16 weeks. The 16-week mark would be right around that Friday July 3rd time. It certainly looks like it’s possible that he could hit that target, and if nothing else – assuming things go as planned and there are no setbacks, Greene could get back in the big leagues just before the All-Star break.
Great news , and according to article he’s ready for 70-75 pitches . Bring him up next start 95 pitches. Let him do that in Cincinnati. Lot better served if we’re trying to get back in playoff race
I always try to grasp what it’s like to pitch with the temp listed at 102. “Different kind of heat,” they laughed.
100 F in Arizona is like 80 F in Cincinnati.
My oven is dry heat. It’s still hot. Good to hear Hunter is on the mend.
Great to see. We need that cat back in the big leagues before all star break, not after.
Great news.
It has been said,however the next 13 games will determine, I believe if the reds are buyers or sellers at deadline.
Hopefully a 8-5 stretch? Sadly with bullpen and inability to hold leads. I wouldn’t be surprised if they go 3-10.
5-8 or 6-7 could be a reality and it wouldn’t be bad considering how things have gone recently and the teams they will face
Looks like if makes 70 effective pitches with good command and no ill effects at Louisville on the 23rd/24th that he would be ready to don the Reds uniform for a scheduled 85 pitches on the 29th/30th in Milwaukee!
At least the velocity was there. Hopefully, he’ll be back at the end of the month or thereabouts.
As for being buyers or sellers? Sorry based on the articles this week, I’d say the decision has been made. Wittenmyer often appears to have inside knowledge and he’s parroting these players are on the block mantra. Obviously, none of the players listed (Suarez, Singer, Lowe, Stephenson, Burke, Johnson, and Ferguson) are candidates for a QO (duh). Nonetheless, a decent FO would be asking themselves which of these players have value next year and into the future and be negotiating deals now before they declare FA, not looking to dump salary for prospects at the trade deadline. That’s not how a FO builds a winning team. But then winning isn’t part of the Reds strategy.
If they sell, the only thing of enough value they’ll have to deal is pitching. And in order to get any value for what they do have, it’ll have to be late to the deadline when some other club gets desperate and overpays. So that’s like 3 or 4 relievers maybe, and potentially Brady Singer. I don’t think they’ll be getting any world beating returns.
I don’t think they’d get much, either, and they would be hard-pressed to field a pitching staff for the remainder of the season.
@LDS,
I admit sometimes I dont understand being “sellers” when Burke, Ferguson, and Johnson could help stabilize the bullpen if given opportunity and being resigned. Same with Lowe. I dunno, baseball is a business and sometimes those decisions make no sense. Oh well.lol
Hmm, I’d try to extend Lowe, and hope Suarez wants to stay for his second year on his deal. I think both will help this team this season, and next season if they’re here.
I don’t mind trading the pitchers listed, we should look to overhaul the pen next year, and spend real money to do so.
You know if we have a season next year.
The old saying is that money spent on relief pitching is money not well spent. I’m not so sure of that when you consider how dependent most teams are on dependable relief pitching over the long grueling baseball season. A young pitcher opting for a career as a relief pitcher would undoubtedly earn less than a starter, but it could lead to a good career if that’s what he wanted to do. The need is certainly there.
Continuing to complain about the FO is a really easy schtick, and it clearly IS a strategy for some “fans” who could be doing something more constructive in life.
“who could be doing something more constructive in life.”
Something more constructive like complaining about what people post on sports forums?
Or expecting owners/FO to field a competitive team after 20+ years of ownership, instead of siphoning money off to the ownership group? I have zero tolerance for mediocrity, institutional or otherwise. And the Reds have raised mediocrity to an art form.
I mean, what are all you people doing here? You could be out enjoying life, and watching the World Cup games (really?).
I dunno, Red’s baseball is a long habit, hard to break. Hurts to see the team and the organization just wallow in mediocrity, or sub-mediocrity. I know that money is a big thing, and the Reds are not as wealthy as other teams, but that doesn’t explain some of the personnel moves. The players don’t draft themselves, don’t coach themselves (well maybe they do, and that would explain a few things), and they don’t run the minor league systems. They don’t write their own paychecks, and all that.
Who does? The Front Office staff that the Ownership group hires.
Of the players you list, I might consider signing TySteve to a multi-year deal, not more than 3. Just long enough to get Duno up and in-place. I think TySteve is a culture guy and good teammate. I also think he could come pretty cheap … Tucker Barnhart signed 4 yr / $16 mil with the Reds.
Wow, Reds have a very tough September schedule! There won’t be any backing in that’s for sure.
SD 3 at home
Mil 3 at home
LA 3 away
Mil 3 away
LA 4 at home
ChC 3 at home
Atl 3 away
Tor 3 away
It is also a chance to make some noise and makeup some ground. We will wait to see.
Finishing June, July and August will be necessary ahead of that, but thanks for the projections.
Just for fun. Lodolo is in his 5th year of MLB. Greene will be in his 5th year when returns soon.
Lodolo. 26-24 W-L record. 8.4 WAR. 104 ERA+
Greene. 25-29 W-L record. 13.2 WAR. 122 ERA+
Imagine Burns in 4 years if he can maintain consistency.
He can be better than either one.
500 pitchers with 6-7 wins/year. When supposedly will they reach their peak? #1 draft picks! I do think that WAR suggests they are above average…..especially considering their injury history. Unfortunately, that is part of the deal. Will be interesting to see how the front office sees their future. It is awkward and negative to run out #7 starters every time these guys go down for 1-2 months.
Very good start for HG
Yep, a very good sign for our favorite team.
The Reds need Greene on the mound that Friday July 3rd