Hunter Greene out 14-to-16 weeks: A look at the timeline

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — For greater than the first half of the season, the Cincinnati Reds will be without their top starting pitcher.

Hunter Greene is scheduled to have a scope on his elbow on Wednesday to remove bone chips and loose bodies. The 14-to-16 week timeline for Greene’s return sets him up to be back on the mound at some point in July.

‘We will miss him,” Terry Francona said. “There’s no getting around that.”

Greene dealt with elbow discomfort during the final month of the 2025 season.

“He never told me (directly) any of that,” Francona said. “I know he has mentioned it to (pitching coach Derek Johnson). He was always telling me he was good. I liked the way he was pitching. The trainers, we’re never going to send somebody out there if they shouldn’t pitch or play. Ever. It’s hard sometimes. If you sat everybody, you’d never have a team. You can’t see inside peoples’ bodies. It can be a little difficult.”

Late in October of 2025, Greene met with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who recommended a PRP injection.

The injection really helped Greene, Francona said. But then a week before the start of spring training, Greene felt discomfort again in his elbow. While Greene was a normal participant in spring training, the Reds were monitoring it.

On Feb. 28, Greene made his spring training debut.

“You could tell,” Krall said. “He didn’t throw a splitter at all. He was having trouble pulling his slider.”

Greene also wasn’t recovering well, which led to him leaving camp to get two opinions on his elbow. He met with Dr. Tim Kremchek and ElAttrache. Krall said that the two doctors’ opinions agreed on having Greene get the procedure to remove the chips and loose bodies.

Greene’s procedure on Wednesday will clean out his elbow. Krall said Greene’s UCL is clean.

Greene has spent time on the IL in every year of his big league career. Francona says that injuries are a part of pitching.

“It’s just the way the game is,” Francona said.

Asked about the bone chips, Francona said, “(It happens) over time. I’ve got them.”

Broadcaster and former big league pitcher Chris Welsh was in the room for this media availability.

“Welsh probably has them all the way down to his ankle,” Francona said. “Sometimes, they’re manageable. Sometimes, they move.”

It got to the point where Greene needed those chips removed. The procedure is set for Wednesday, and Greene will likely be back in Goodyear next week. The immediate steps after that are to be determined.

“He’s probably frustrated that he hasn’t pitched a full season,” Krall said. “He has said it to (the media) that his goal was to pitch so many innings this year. Obviously it’s something that’s weighing on him.”

There’s no way to replace Greene, who would have been a Cy Young candidate had he stayed healthy. Andrew Abbott gives the Reds a strong Opening Day starter, the Reds have high expectations for Nick Lodolo and Brady Singer is a valuable piece.

Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder and Brandon Williamson are competing for the final two spots in the Reds’ rotation.

“We’re excited about all three of those guys,” Krall said.

“We’ve done a better job with our depth,” Francona said.