DISASTER: Hunter Greene Injured Again...Cincinnati Reds Starting Pitching Depth Challenges, MLB News

Trace Fowler and Nick Kirby discuss the latest injury to Hunter Greene.

------------------

The Cincinnati Reds were dealt another significant setback on Wednesday as ace Hunter Greene was sidelined with another injury concern, creating uncertainty for both the club's playoff hopes and the future of one of baseball's most electric pitchers.

Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall confirmed before Wednesday's game that Greene underwent an MRI at Beacon Orthopedic earlier in the day and will travel to Los Angeles for an evaluation with renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache.

"He is going to go see Dr. ElAttrache in Los Angeles," Krall said. "We don't have anything right now. Once we have that information, we'll give it to you."

At this point, the organization has not announced the nature of Greene's injury or a timeline for his return. Krall declined to provide additional details, saying the club is waiting for a specialist's opinion before commenting further.

The injury appears to have surfaced following Greene's bullpen session on Tuesday. According to Krall, Greene experienced soreness after throwing, prompting the Reds to immediately send him for medical imaging.

"He threw his side yesterday," Krall explained. "Had some soreness. Came out of his side and we sent him to go see a doctor first thing this morning."

The timing is particularly concerning. Greene had been scheduled to make his next start on Thursday against the Athletics after pitching on July 31 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In that outing, he worked six innings, allowing seven hits and four earned runs while walking two and striking out four. Nothing during or immediately after that game suggested a significant injury, making the development after his bullpen session even more alarming.

The latest setback continues what has been a frustrating trend throughout Greene's young career. While the hard-throwing right-hander has established himself as one of the premier power pitchers in Major League Baseball, injuries have repeatedly interrupted his seasons.

Earlier this year, Greene missed time before returning to the Reds' rotation in early July. When healthy, he has shown why the organization views him as the centerpiece of its pitching staff, consistently overpowering hitters with an upper-90s fastball and devastating slider.

Losing Greene again would be a massive blow for a Reds team that had begun to play some of its best baseball of the second half. Cincinnati has won three of its last four series and had started to build momentum despite a disappointing first half and a relatively quiet trade deadline.

The Reds were already dealing with several key injuries throughout the roster, including starting pitcher Nick Lodolo, who is currently working his way back from the injured list after making a rehab start with Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday. Another extended absence for Greene would place even more pressure on Cincinnati's starting rotation as the club attempts to remain competitive over the final two months of the season.

For now, however, the focus remains on gathering more information. Dr. ElAttrache is one of the most respected orthopedic specialists in professional sports and has treated countless Major League pitchers throughout his career. His evaluation is expected to provide the Reds with a clearer picture of Greene's condition and whether the injury will require a short absence or something more significant.

Until those results are available, the organization is remaining cautious.

Krall emphasized that the Reds simply do not know enough yet to speculate on the severity of the injury or what it means for the remainder of Greene's season.

The uncertainty leaves both the Reds and their fans anxiously awaiting answers. Greene has been one of the faces of the franchise since making his major league debut, and every time he takes the mound he gives Cincinnati a chance to compete against anyone in baseball. His absence would not only impact the rotation but also the team's chances of making a late-season push.

The Reds are expected to provide another update once Greene has been evaluated in Los Angeles. Until then, Cincinnati's biggest question is also its most important one: how long will Hunter Greene be out this time?