GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Reds ace Hunter Greene is scheduled for an MRI on Friday after reporting right elbow stiffness earlier this week, manager Terry Francona said on Wednesday. The team booked the procedure after Greene woke up with the discomfort on Tuesday, and he will be evaluated by team physician Dr. Timothy Kremcheck.
Francona said Greene will not throw until at least Tuesday, when the team expects to have more information. He will also get a second opinion from Dr. Neal ElAttrache, an orthopedic surgeon based in the Los Angeles area who performed Greene's 2019 Tommy John surgery.
Francona said Greene is “not recovering the way, I think, he’s comfortable with,” though Francona said the team is not sure when any issue may have occurred. The Reds decided to proceed with caution after the right-hander opted to not throw a scheduled side session on Tuesday because of the discomfort.
Francona said the team expects to have more information on Tuesday.
“We need to get this,” Francona said. “You know, you're asking the guy to go out there and throw as hard as he can. We need to make sure he's OK.”
Greene has thrown one inning in Spring Training, allowing four runs against the Brewers on Saturday. He did not record a strikeout while walking one batter.
The 26-year-old has dealt with injuries in the past. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2019, his 2022 MLB debut season was interrupted by a shoulder strain. He missed two months in 2023 with right hip pain, and a bruised elbow landed him on the IL for five weeks in 2024.
Greene was limited to 107 2/3 innings in 2025 after suffering a right groin strain on two separate occasions.
“I don't want to speculate, it’s too soon,” Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said. “We’re going to just get it taken care of.”
Cincinnati still has multiple pitchers at camp vying for a spot in the starting rotation, including Rhett Lowder, Chase Burns, Julian Aguiar and Brandon Williamson.