Reds’ Greene proves he can match hype
PITTSBURGH — When Cincinnati Reds starter Hunter Greene learned he made the opening day roster, he called his parents, and he cried.
Greene had already graced the cover of Sports Illustrated and had been heralded as one of baseball’s most exciting prospects, but now he had arrived. On April 10, he would become the youngest active starting pitcher in MLB.
Since then, there have been ups and downs.
Two weeks ago, he allowed five home runs in a disappointing start versus the Milwaukee Brewers. Greene entered the weekend with a 7.62 ERA and a 1-5 record.
But Sunday at PNC Park, Greene struck out nine batters while walking five, but more importantly, pitched 7 no-hit innings, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He lived up to all the hype with the way he commanded the game. Cincinnati still lost 1-0.
“It would’ve been great to have a different result, but it is what it is,” Greene said. “This is my team, ride or die with them.”
In the eighth inning, even as his pitch count reached 118, Greene showed a unique skill set. His fastball was reaching 98 miles per hour. His slider was keeping hitters off-balance.
But Greene walked two straight batters and started stretching his arm out, prompting manager David Bell to bring Art Warren out of the bullpen.
Warren threw what should have been a double-play ball to end the inning, but second baseman Alejo Lopez bobbled it and couldn’t turn two. The runner from third base scored, and the Pirates took a 1-0 lead.
The Reds failed to score in the top of the ninth inning, and they lost without allowing a hit.
“We want to do everything we can to win the game, and that’s the main goal,” Bell said. “But that doesn’t take away from how special of a day that it was by Hunter Greene.”
Greene has already had to overcome a career’s worth of obstacles. He missed some of the 2018 season and all of 2019 after having Tommy John surgery. The 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic. In 2021, Greene pitched with an innings limit.
Sunday, the 22-year-old reached the other side of those setbacks to look like the future star he was reputed to be. Although the Reds lost, it was more important for last-place Cincinnati that Greene proved himself.
“What has stood out to me is how well he handled it all,” Bell said. “He’s a quick learner who makes quick adjustments. He doesn’t get down on himself. He’s very competitive, but he approaches it exactly how you’d want somebody to. There’s no way he could handle that any better ... It’s really impressive.”