Reds Beat: Hunter Greene ‘I’m Not Oblivious To The Situation We’re In’

CINCINNATI — Hunter Greene knows how much his Reds teammates are depending on him. But his message Tuesday, a day before he returns to the mound for the first time in two months, is that there’s no one putting any more pressure on him than the right-hander himself.

Greene is taking to the hill Wednesday for the first time since June 3 at Great American Ball Park, when he held Milwaukee to two runs on five hits, striking out seven and walking three in five innings. He received a no-decision in a game the Reds won, 4-2.

He felt a tweak in his groin in the fifth inning, a re-aggravation of the same groin problem that sent him to the injured list in mid-May and forced him to miss two starts.

This time, instead of two starts, he missed over two months. He was 4-3 with an impressive 2.72 ERA in 11 starts this season at the time of the shutdown.

“I mean, I’m not oblivious to the situation that we’re in,” Greene said of his playoff-hunting teammates. “I put a lot of pressure on myself. Nobody’s ever going to put more pressure on me than I will myself. I mean, I’m the one that’s going through this process and going through this journey of the sport and who I am as a person and a player. So I think understanding that and being able to not lose sight of that is super important and keeping that perspective. But yeah, I mean, obviously I’m putting my best foot forward.”

The team assured him throughout the process, through MRIs and tests, that there was no serious damage done and that they would clear him as soon as he felt comfortable. To that end, Greene wanted to go through the rigors of minor league rehab, making one start at Rookie League ACL-Reds in Arizona and three more at Triple-A Louisville. He allowed 10 hits and 11 runs while striking out 24 and walking five and yielding four home runs. That included two in his most recent start for Louisville last week. But the bottom line is that now he finally feels comfortable returning.

His return just so happens to coincide with a time the Reds desperately need his golden arm back in the rotation. Nick Lodolo is working his way back on rehab from a blister on the middle finger of his left throwing hand. Rookie Chase Burns is rapidly approaching an organization-determined innings limit for the year and a subsequent move to the bullpen to slow the pace. Zack Littell is still acclimating to new surroundings in Cincinnati since his trade from Tampa Bay.

“Of course, I’ve taken that expectation and that role on,” Greene said. “I embrace it. Obviously, I am in that position to be able to bring change and difference. Nothing is guaranteed. To sit here and say that I throw a no-hitter (against Philadelphia), nobody could say that. But like I said, all I can control is putting my best foot forward through this rehab process, and I won that so, whatever happens tomorrow happens, and I just feel like I’ve been able to do everything I can in this process to put myself in this position.”

The NL East-leading Phillies present a big challenge. Perhaps the bigger challenge is between Greene’s ears, putting the last two months behind, assuring himself that he’s physically good to go and just focus on being the best pitcher he can for the final six weeks of the season as the Reds race for a wild card spot.

“I’m just trying to stay out of that mindset of being internal, being more external, rehabbing and going through that experience, and everybody obviously wants to feel good,” Greene told me. “But you’ve got to be able to flip that switch to think external, think me versus you, because when you’re when you’re rolling, you’re doing your best in the big leagues, that’s usually the mindset that you’re in is more external and not worrying about how you’re feeling or if this is going to feel right.”

Greene externally sounded very confident in his ability Tuesday to provide a boost to the Reds.

“It’s great,” Greene said. “I love everything about myself and what I’ve been able to do so far. Obviously, I have even more expectations for myself moving forward. But I feel like that I’m a huge component to the team, and I know that, and I’ve been able to get a lot of love for my teammates coming back, and I just really appreciate that, because they’ve been grinding all year, and it could have been a different dynamic, but I feel like I’ve always been consistent in my character and have always just been the same person. I think that goes a long way.

“Of course, I’ve put a lot of work in in this time off to make sure that I’m in a good position. Nothing’s guaranteed, but there’s no doubt when I step foot on the mound that I put my best foot forward.”

Greene told me that he’s been happy with all of the communication that’s taken place, between him and the team, coaches, training and medical staff and teammates.

“Communication is the number one amongst many things,” Greene said. “So, I feel like communication always has to be solid, and I feel like everybody is on the same page moving forward.”

Greene was asked if he feels he has to make amends with teammates after missing over two months.

“I don’t know about amends, but obviously I have a lot of respect for everybody in that clubhouse,” Greene said. “Everybody works extremely hard as well as I do. There’s no difference in work ethic when it comes to myself or the rest of the team. Everybody works extremely hard.”

Greene said he’s been staying in touch with his teammates via texts and the occasional phone call.

“By shooting texts, picking up the phone, calling guys and just keeping that – I don’t want to say chemistry – but for lack of better terms right now chemistry, and just support. So I value the work ethic and the time that everybody puts into their craft… I value our relationships in the clubhouse to the fullest extent.”

Greene knows full well the best way to show his appreciation is to take the mound and dominate like everyone in the Cincinnati clubhouse knows he’s capable, and continuing that for the rest of the season, however long that may be.