GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Put it on the whiteboard, they (the numbers) will come?
There's a whiteboard in Hunter Greene's house that is headlined with "2025," and the following goals:
• 180-plus innings
• Sub-3 ERA
• 200-plus strikeouts
• All-Star
• 1st Cy Young
“I’ve been doing that since I was a freshman in high school," Greene said after Saturday's two-inning start in a 6-3 win against the Guardians at Goodyear Ballpark. "I have a bunch of whiteboards at my home. That whiteboard specifically is in my gym. It’s a visual I’ve had since the beginning of the offseason. I dream big. It’s something I like to look at every day and shoot for.”
Something that Greene has not achieved in his previous three Major League seasons is pitching a full year uninterrupted by injuries. In 2024, he was a first-time All-Star while going 9-5 with a 2.75 ERA. He set career highs with 26 starts and 150 1/3 innings, but he also missed five weeks with right elbow soreness.
If he reaches 180 innings, Greene would likely have to do it injury-free.
“Usually you make every start if that’s the amount of innings you’re throwing," Greene said.
Greene's first pitch of spring against Cleveland was scorched for a double to right-center field by Brayan Rocchio. Three batters later with two outs, Lane Thomas hit his first pitch to left field for a two-run home run. Greene walked Bo Naylor before finishing the frame with a strikeout.
In the second inning, Greene gave up a leadoff single to Gabriel Arias before striking out Austin Hedges on a 98.9 mph fastball. Rocchio reached on a two-out single before Greene ended the outing with a groundout.
“Feeling good and being aggressive and in the zone. I threw a lot of strikes," Greene said. "In my book, I can work with today, for sure.”
The hard contact by Cleveland did not concern Greene.
“It’s the first game," Greene said. "They’re 0-0 pitches and guys are swinging. They know I get ahead with fastballs and for me, I wasn’t disappointed or mad or scratching my head. That’s going to happen.”