Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene underwent Tommy John surgery to repair a damaged ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow on Wednesday, the second time he's undergone the procedure in his career. It will end his 2026 season and keep him out for most, if not all, of 2027.
The team announced on Friday that Greene would have elbow surgery, but the extent and type of the procedure wasn't known until the surgery took place. He previously had Tommy John surgery in 2019 in the Minor Leagues. He also underwent arthroscopic surgery on March 11 to remove bone chips from the elbow.
“He said he was sore off and on for a couple of weeks," Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall told reporters on Friday at Nationals Park. "At the same time, it wasn’t something he brought to anyone’s attention because he thought it was just, ‘Hey, you’re coming off the bone chip surgery. You’re just going to push through it.’”
Greene, 27, reported elbow soreness during his side bullpen session on Aug. 4. Greene saw team orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tim Kremchek the next day and underwent an MRI. On Aug. 6, Greene saw Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles for a second opinion.
“Both said when you go in there, you’re going to find out what it is and then go from there," Krall said.
The second overall selection in the 2017 Draft, Greene debuted in the Majors in 2022 but injuries have plagued his career. He has spent time on the IL in each of his five big league seasons.
Those injuries have stunted Greene's numbers. His career highs of 150 1/3 innings, 26 starts and 169 strikeouts came in 2024, his lone All-Star season. In '25, which included two stints on the IL with a Grade 1 right groin strain, he was 7-4 with a 2.76 ERA in 19 starts and 132 strikeouts over 107 2/3 innings.