Reds Beat: Hunter Greene To Have MRI On Right Elbow As Reds Face First Major Hurdle Of 2026 Spring Training

Time for breath holding in Goodyear.

The Reds got the news Wednesday that ace Hunter Greene will have an MRI after reporting stiffness in his right elbow.

The 26-year-old right-hander headed back to Cincinnati to have the exam to evaluate the severity of the issue. While Greene has downplayed the situation — stating there is no damage to his Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) – he revealed that the discomfort actually dates back to the final five or six starts of the 2025 season.

The imaging is scheduled for Friday, to be evaluated by team physician Dr. Timothy Kremchek. He will then travel to Los Angeles for a second opinion next week, consulting Greene with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who performed his 2019 Tommy John surgery. in Los Angeles early next week. He is shut down from throwing until at least next Tuesday.

Greene noted he has “bone spurs” but believes his UCL is intact based on recent checks prior to this current flare-up, with a procedure possible to clean up the elbow. He managed the pain through an injection and offseason rest, but it resurfaced a week before spring training began. He was then tagged for four runs on five hits in just one inning with a walk in his only spring start last Saturday against Milwaukee.

Clearly, this latest setback places his status for Opening Day 2026 in serious jeopardy.

Injury History and Career Durability

Despite his elite velocity—averaging 99.5 mph on his four-seam fastball—Greene has struggled to maintain health for a full season throughout his career:

2025 Season: Limited to a career-low 19 starts (107.2 innings) due to a right groin strain that required two separate stints on the Injured List.

2024 Season: Experienced his healthiest year to date, making 26 starts and earning his first All-Star selection, though he did miss roughly a month with elbow soreness and swelling.

2023 Season: Sidelined for over two months by right hip pain, finishing the year with just 22 starts.

2019 Season: Underwent Tommy John surgery, which forced him to miss the entire year during his development in the minor leagues.

When healthy, there’s no questioning Greene has been dominant and the clear No. 1 on the Cincinnati staff. Last year, he posted a 2.76 ERA and a career-best 0.94 WHIP, helping lead the Reds to a Wild Card appearance. To combat his injury history, Greene focused heavily on lower-half strengthening and “bulletproofing” his body during the 2025-26 offseason.

The Reds signed Greene to a six-year, $53 million extension in 2023.

This is not great news but if there’s one team positioned to handle this coming out of spring training, it’s the Reds. Consider:

1. Nick Lodolo (LHP): Assumes No. 1 spot coming off a strong 2.87 ERA in 2025.
2. Andrew Abbott (LHP): Another top-of-rotation starter. 2025 All-Star with a 3.33 ERA last season.
3. Brady Singer (RHP): Veteran presence and “innings eater” acquired from Kansas City; posted a 4.03 ERA in 169.2 IP in 2025.
4. Chase Burns (RHP): 2024 #2 overall pick; electric arm topping 100 mph; struck out 10+ in 4 of his first 8 career starts. Looks strong in spring.
5. Rhett Lowder (RHP): Coming off injury-riddled 2025. Has been dominant this spring (1.13 ERA in 8 IP).

On top of that, the Reds have lefty Brandon Williamson (returning from Tommy John), Julian Aguiar, and Chase Petty in the wings.

Because there can never be enough pitching depth, the Reds acquired more from Pittsburgh Wednesday. The Reds traded for right-hander Kyle Nicolas from the Pirates in exchange for utility man Tyler Callihan. Nicolas, who turned 27 on Feb. 22, split the 2025 season between the Pirates and Triple-A Indianapolis, pitching to a 1-2 record with a 4.74 ERA in 31 appearances with Pittsburgh and a 2-2 record with a 3.79 ERA in 30 games (one start) for Indianapolis. He is expected to pitch for Team Italy in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

Originally selected by the Marlins in the Competitive Balance B Round of the 2020 MLB Draft, Nicolas has pitched in 86 games in three Major League seasons with the Pirates (2023-25). A native of Massillon, Ohio, Nicolas attended Jackson High School, where as a senior in 2017 was named Prep Baseball Report’s Ohio Player of the Year after pitching to an 8-0 record with 0.50 ERA and 78 strikeouts, helping the Polar Bears to a state title.

Callihan, 25, made his Major League debut with the Reds this past season, appearing in four games before suffering a season-ending, left-forearm fracture on May 5 at Atlanta. Originally selected by the Reds in the third round of the 2019 MLB Draft, he entered the 2026 season rated by both MLB.com and Baseball America as the organization’s 19th-best prospect.

Assuming Hunter Greene is not on the Opening Day roster, here’s the latest 26-man roster projection for March 26 when the Reds open the season against the Red Sox at Great American Ball Park:

Starting Pitchers (5):
LHP Nick Lodolo
LHP Andrew Abbott
LHP Brady Singer
RHP Rhett Lowder
RHP Chase Burns

Relievers (8):
RHP Pierce Johnson
LHP Caleb Ferguson
LHP Brock Burke
LHP Sam Moll
RHP Tony Santillan
RHP Graham Ashcraft
RHP Emilio Pagan
RHP Connor Phillips

Catchers (2):
Tyler Stephenson
Jose Trevino

Infielders (6):
1B/OF Spencer Steer, 2B Matt McLain, SS Elly De La Cruz, 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes, 1B/2B/DH Sal Stewart, DH/3B Eugenio Suarez

Outfielders (5):
CF TJ Friedl, RF Noelvi Marte, OF JJ Bleday, OF Will Benson, OF Dane Myers

Observations: Abbott and Ashcraft have been rocked this spring so far. Ashcraft is pitching to a 40.50 ERA, including six runs and four hits in just 1 1/3 innings, with only two strikeouts. That doesn’t include giving up the only two runs Cuba scored in a 19-2 Reds’ rout Wednesday. Abbott, in two starts, has been hit hard, giving up six runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out four and walking one. Keep an eye on Brandon Williamson, Tejay Antone and Sam Moll. Antone, coming off his third Tommy John surgery, has retired all six batters he’s faced while striking out two. Williamson, also coming off Tommy John, has fanned six in four innings, walking just one, giving up two runs on three hits. Matt McLain has been on a tear, batting .571 with three homers and nine RBIs. Newcomer Dane Myers is batting .455 while the bulked up Elly De La Cruz is batting .400 with a homer and five RBIs.