EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene, who was expected to be the team's ace this season, will have an arthroscopic procedure Wednesday to remove bone chips and loose bodies from his right elbow and is not expected to return until July.Greene, 26, left the Reds' spring training camp in Arizona on Wednesday due to elbow stiffness, returned to Cincinnati and underwent imaging in addition to consulting specialists, including Dr. Neal ElAttrache."We will miss him. There is no getting around that," manager Terry Francona said Tuesday. "... I don't see anyone looking like they're feeling sorry for themselves. This is just the way the game is [for pitchers]."Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said they hope Greene would be ready to pitch in the majors in 14 to 16 weeks."It's definitely good news compared to what it could have been," Krall said. "... He'll be like a trade-deadline acquisition."Greene went 7-4 with a 2.76 ERA but was limited to a career-low 19 starts and 107 innings last season as Cincinnati earned its first playoff appearance since 2020. His 99.5 mph average four-seam fastball velocity led the major leagues among those throwing at least 1,250 pitches, and his 296 pitches of 100 mph or higher was second in the major leagues behind Mason Miller (422).He added more lower-body work to his offseason routine this year in hopes of avoiding injuries after two stints on the injured list in 2025.Greene is entering his fifth big league season. He made the NL All-Star team for the first time in 2024 while going 9-5 with a 2.75 ERA in 26 starts. He also had 169 strikeouts in 150 innings despite spending time on the IL that year with elbow soreness.The Reds have tabbed left-hander Andrew Abbott as their Opening Day starter at home against the Boston Red Sox on March 26.It's the first Opening Day start for Abbott, 26, who was selected as an All-Star for the first time last year in his third season with the Reds.The Reds feel better about their starting pitching depth this year than in the past few seasons as the ascension of prospects Rhett Lowder and Chase Burns gives them a couple of young, quality arms to choose from. They'll compete with righties Brandon Williamson and Julian Aguilar for rotation spots with Abbott, Nick Lodolo and Brady Singer already ensconced as starters.Burns, in particular, has the most upside after debuting last season. He started eight games while also appearing in the postseason for the Reds. Drafted second overall in 2024, Burns has ace potential, and Cincinnati might need his best as soon as possible to overcome the loss of Greene.ESPN's Jesse Rogers and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
