CINCINNATI -- Reds ace Hunter Greene checked off another box as he returns from a groin injury that has had him on the injured list for the past two weeks.
“The velo is great,” said Greene, who threw 35 pitches off the mound in a bullpen session. “Easy 95. Nothing in my groin. All good.”
Greene will throw another bullpen session later this week during Cincinnati's series in Pittsburgh. The Reds haven’t announced when Greene is projected to return from the injured list.
“It’s been good,” Greene said. “I’ve hit all of my checkpoints. I’m looking forward to getting out there.”
While Greene is one of the Reds’ most valuable players, they have mostly been able to survive his stint on the injured list.
Greene was injured during the series in Atlanta, and Cincinnati rebounded to win that game. Chase Petty (the Reds' No. 6 prospect, No. 90 overall, according to MLB Pipeline), who filled Greene’s slot in the rotation, struggled in his MLB debut vs. the Cardinals on April 30 and then allowed four runs in three innings against the Astros on May 11.
Petty was slated to pitch again on Saturday, but manager Terry Francona pivoted to a bullpen game. Relievers Brent Suter and Lyon Richardson allowed a combined one run in five innings, and Petty didn’t pitch in that game as the Reds beat the Guardians, 4-1.
Petty was available out of the bullpen on Sunday for the series finale.