CINCINNATI -- The Reds played well enough without Hunter Greene to contend for the playoffs while the starting pitcher was on the injured list for more than two months with a strained right groin.
Could having Greene back in the rotation -- beginning Wednesday vs. the Phillies -- be the difference that helps put Cincinnati into the postseason with a National League Wild Card spot over the final six weeks?
“I’ll tell you after the last six weeks," manager Terry Francona said. "He pitched Opening Day for us, so we obviously thought pretty highly of him. Getting back a main member of your staff should help.”
In 11 starts this season, the 26-year-old Greene is 4-3 with a 2.72 ERA in 59 2/3 innings. But similar to past seasons, there's been a large gap of time missed when his team needed him. This year, it's been two stints on the IL for a Grade 1 right groin strain. The second stint has had him out since June 4.
Why did it take so long?
“Just making sure I was in a good position moving forward and making sure I could do everything I could to put myself in the best position … to know kind of how I feel going through the process, knowing when I get out on the field the way that I feel -- I pitched a lot,” Greene responded. “I know my body the best. Just making sure I’m in that position.”
In early July, Greene was about to begin a rehab assignment before telling the club he felt symptoms again and postponed it. A follow-up MRI exam revealed no further injury, but he was sent for more treatment and work at the team’s complex in Goodyear, Ariz.
Did Greene -- who reached 150 innings once in his four years with Cincinnati, during his 2024 All-Star season -- feel like he needed to make amends with his teammates for being out a prolonged stretch?
“No. I don’t know about amends. I have a lot of respect for everybody in that clubhouse," said Greene, who has a six-year, $53 million contract that runs through 2028. "Everybody works extremely hard. … There’s no difference in work ethic when it comes to myself or the rest of the team. Everybody works extremely hard and has made a lot of sacrifices as well. Not really amends, but just really trying to come back and not miss that beat, if that makes sense.”
The Reds will find out if that extra time away for Greene was time well spent.
“He really wanted to be 100 percent so he could be the pitcher he [wanted]," Francona said. "We’ve had a lot of conversations. It’s hard sometimes because you can’t see inside somebody’s body. So if you say, ‘Hey, if you’re 95 percent, you can help us.’ But saying that, if a guy doesn’t feel comfortable, that’s a really touchy area where you almost have to default to let the guy when he’s ready, be ready.”
Feeling ready to pitch again without physical limitations, Greene believes he could be a difference maker with the Reds for the remainder of the season.
“One hundred percent," Greene said. "I’ve taken that expectation and that role on and I embrace it. Obviously I am in that position to be able to bring change and difference. Nothing is guaranteed. All I can control is putting my best forward through this rehab process and I’ve done that. Whatever happens tomorrow, happens.”