The Cincinnati Reds have hit another roadblock in their efforts to stabilize the starting rotation. Star pitcher Hunter Greene was scratched from his scheduled rehab start for Triple-A Louisville after experiencing renewed soreness in his right groin, the team confirmed Monday.
The 25-year-old flamethrower, who’s been sidelined since June 4, had been recovering from a Grade 1 groin strain and had also received an epidural injection to address lingering back discomfort. According to Fox 19 Now’s Charlie Goldsmith, Greene underwent an MRI to evaluate the new soreness. The results will determine whether he can resume throwing or if a longer delay is necessary.
Greene had been expected to return as early as Sunday in a home game against the Colorado Rockies — the Reds’ final matchup before the All-Star break. That timeline is now in jeopardy, and Cincinnati will proceed cautiously with their prized right-hander. Manager Terry Francona told NBC 5 Cincinnati that the MRI was ordered “out of an abundance of caution,” emphasizing that the team has no plans to rush him back.
Before landing on the injured list, Greene was pitching at an elite level, posting a 2.72 ERA with 73 strikeouts over 59.2 innings in 11 starts. His fastball routinely hit triple digits, and he appeared to be building on a breakout 2024 season in which he was named an All-Star and finished eighth in National League Cy Young voting.
Unfortunately, injuries have continued to interrupt Greene’s momentum. In addition to the groin strain, he missed time in 2024 with elbow soreness and had already dealt with groin issues earlier this season between May 8–23. His inability to stay on the mound has left the Reds in a constant state of rotation shuffle.
With Cincinnati currently sitting at 46–44 and eight games out of first in the NL Central, Greene’s presence could be pivotal down the stretch. While Andrew Abbott and Nick Lodolo have performed well in his absence, the Reds need their ace healthy and back in form to stay in the postseason race. For now, all eyes turn to the MRI results and whether Greene’s latest setback is minor — or something more serious.
