For Cincy, Greene Matches Trajectory From Solid Run With Bats

By Josh Romans/Louisville Bats

COBB COUNTY, GA. -- Fans, especially those in Cincinnati, have long awaited the arrival of Hunter Greene to the big leagues. After having his original timeline rescheduled twice – following Tommy John’s surgery in April of 2019 and Minor League Baseball shutting down in 2020 – Greene assumed his post atop the mound for the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves.

“I felt like I was at home,” Greene said after the start. “A lot of people told me not to look up, but I looked up immediately when I got out there. I wanted to take it all in and enjoy it.”

Greene struck out the $168-million superstar Matt Olson for his first career MLB punchout and posted 3.0 consecutive shutout innings to open his debut.

According to Sarah Langs of MLB, Greene delivered 20 pitches that topped 100 MPH, an effort that is tied for the 8th most in MLB history (in the pitch-tracking era). He averaged 99.7 MPH on his fastball for the duration of the game. In the Statcast era, his average fastball velocity ranks sixth all-time among pitchers with at least 50 pitches thrown in a single outing.

The Red’s offense exploded for a five-run inning in the bottom of the third, providing plenty of cushion for Greene to finish off his outing. He went 5.0 frames with three runs on four hits with an impressive seven strikeouts to earn the win against the reigning World Series Champions.

“It seemed like the seats were full and I have always fed off of that, thriving in those situations,” Greene remarked regarding the 38,233 fans in attendance. “I felt like I was at home. A lot of people told me not to look up [at the stands], but I looked up immediately when I got out there. I wanted to take it all in and enjoy it.”

His enjoyment was felt in the clubhouse as well.

“Joey’s [Votto] play in the fourth really fired me up.” Greene said. “It was awesome to see him make that play to keep us in it. That inning could have gone sideways pretty quick… but he saved a big inning. I gave him some love in the team meeting, but that was a huge moment and really helped me stay on track… The team really put me in a great position to get the win today.”

Greene’s family was on-hand for the debut and following what was surely a nerve-wracking afternoon, his father Russell summed up the climb to the Majors succinctly.

“How many 22-year-olds get to realize their dream on a national stage against the world defending Atlanta Braves,” he said. “Not very many. The whole world just watched a 22-year-old do his thing.”

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Hunter Greene has arrived in Major League Baseball.

An incredible day for the whole Greene family yesterday soaking in @HunterGreene17's @Reds debut pic.twitter.com/2lkVN16ut6

— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) April 11, 2022

Greene’s debut was more of the same from his strong run at the Triple-A level with the Louisville Bats last season. After opening the 2021 season in Double-A Chattanooga (7 starts), the top prospect made his Bats debut in Omaha, where he reached 103 MPH on the radar gun with his fastball.

Greene worked through some growing pains of Triple-A hitters ambushing his fastball for a handful of home runs to log a 3.61 ERA through his first start in September. He ultimately finished 2021 with a combined record of 10-8 with a 3.30 ERA, 139 strikeouts (11.76 K/9) and just 39 walks (3.30 BB/9) over 21 starts at Double and Triple-A.

"Everyone knows who he is," Bats pitching coach Seth Etherton said after Greene struck out 10 batters last season at St. Paul. "He's going to bring that hard fastball, but hitters adapt and he needs to as well.

He’s really embraced (adapting his approach) and he’s feeling it. He's really becoming a pitcher now."