Potential No. 1 overall pick Hunter Greene has been officially shut down on the mound for the remainder of the spring.
Rumors had been swirling since it was announced Greene wasn't going to pitch in the recently completed Boras Classic. Coach Tom Dill told MLB.com last week he was leaning toward not having the two-way phenom pitch again this season, but was reserving the right to change his mind come playoff time. On Tuesday, Russell Greene, Hunter's father, texted scouts to let them know a final decision had been made.
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"Update: Gentlemen, I've just been informed that Coach Tom Dill made a team announcement after practice today to shut Hunter down from the mound for the rest of the season," the text read. "This was a decision coach Dill made on his own today. However, Hunter will continue with bullpens as to stay in shape for whatever happens in June. Hunter will continue to play shortstop and focus on his hitting."
Greene would be a first-round pick as an infielder, but had separated himself on the mound, hitting triple digits with regularity and throwing solid secondary offerings, all with a clean and athletic delivery and all for strikes.
"It's a little disappointing," one scouting director said. "We work in the ultimate team sport. How did the other kids on his team react?
"We've not seen anyone do this before, so I guess the word we would use is surprised. I think most of baseball would have liked to see him continue to pitch. What does this mean for the team that takes him? It will take them quite a while to get him ready to pitch. It's very unusual, that's for sure."