Hunter Greene Returns To Injured List With Elbow Soreness

Hunter Greene placed on IL

Hunter Greene headed to LA for elbow evaluation as Reds place him on IL. 

Reds’ Hunter Greene out with elbow issue...

Cincinnati Reds ace Hunter Greene was placed back on the injured list Wednesday after experiencing soreness in his surgically repaired right elbow. 

The Reds said there’s no timeline for Greene’s return. He’ll head to Los Angeles for another evaluation with orthopedist Dr. Neal ElAttrache first.

Greene first reported elbow soreness during a bullpen session between starts on Tuesday, which led to an MRI on Wednesday morning. Reds president Nick Krall declined to share the MRI results.

“I'm ‌not going to get into that until we have the other doctor's opinion on that,” Krall said.

  

This marks the seventh time in five MLB seasons that Greene has landed on the injured list. The 27-year-old, who celebrates his birthday Thursday, has yet to make it through a full season without an IL stint. He earned an All-Star nod in 2024 after making 24 starts - the most of his big-league career so far.

Before Greene was officially placed on the IL on Wednesday, Krall met with him along with GM Brad Meador, manager Terry Francona, and head trainer Sean McQueeney.

“It's tough,” Krall descibes. “He's had a couple elbow things this season. He's had some other stuff throughout the last couple seasons. We know we're going to get him on the right track, and get him back, and hopefully he'll be in games sooner rather than later.

“But whatever happens, we've just got to support him and do whatever we can do for him.”

  

So far in 2026, Greene is 2-2 in five starts with a 6.83 ERA. His standout outing came on July 10 vs. the Chicago Cubs, when he struck out 12, walked one, and tossed seven scoreless innings.

In his last start on July 31 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Greene gave up four runs over six innings. Two of those runs scored in the first after defensive miscues - including Greene failing to cover first base quickly enough on what should have been the third out.

The #Reds today recalled RHP Luis Mey from Triple-A Louisville and placed RHP Hunter Greene (right elbow soreness) on the 15-day Injured List, retro to 8/2.

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 5, 2026

The Reds sit at 54-58 and were hoping to have a full rotation back soon with Nick Lodolo nearing a return from a blister. That plan now looks unlikely. In fact, they’ve only had their entire starting staff healthy for about a week, back last month.

“It's unfortunate. But it's unfortunate for him,” Krall pointed out. “He's going through this. Hopefully, everything's going to be OK for him.”

Cincinnati fielded trade offers for Greene at the MLB deadline, but nothing materialized.

Greene signed a six-year, $53 million deal in early 2023. He still has two guaranteed years left at $15 million and $16 million, plus a club option for 2029 worth $21 million with a $2 million buyout.

Because of Greene’s injury, Krall said left-hander Andrew Abbott will likely move up in the rotation to start Wednesday’s game against the Athletics.