Nick Krall: Reds Plan To Add RHP Hunter Greene To 40-Man Roster

CARLSBAD, Calif.—Hunter Greene has pitched only one full season since the Reds made him the second overall pick in the 2017 draft.

That one full season was enough to convince the club he’s worthy of a 40-man roster spot, general manager Nick Krall said Wednesday at the general manager’s meetings. Greene has to be added this year or he would be exposed to the Rule 5 draft.

“He’ll be added to the 40-man roster, which is no secret,” Krall said. “He’s going to come into spring training and we’ll see where he is to compete for the major league club.”

Greene, 22, pitched in official games for the first time in three years last season and went 10-8, 3.30 in 21 starts across Double-A and Triple-A. Armed with his triple-digit fastball and a vastly improved slider, he struck out 139 batters and walked 39 in 106.1 innings.

Greene missed most of 2018 and all of 2019 recovering from an elbow injury that eventually required Tommy John surgery and spent 2020 at the alternate training site after the coronavirus pandemic canceled the minor league season.

He returned in 2021 and dominated with a 1.98 ERA in seven starts at Double-A Chattanooga before struggling to a 5-8, 4.13 mark at Triple-A Louisville. Given he hadn’t pitched in an official game in three years, the Reds were more than happy with his total body of work.

“This was his first full season ever pitching,” Krall said. “He had a good first full season. He pitched really well in Double-A, went up to Triple-A struggled a little bit, pitched well, and then I think at the end he got tired, which is understandable because it’s the longest season he’s ever had. I felt his season was really good.”