The Cincinnati Reds have been without their All-Star starting pitcher Hunter Greene for all of the 2026 season as he recovers from elbow surgery.The wait to get Greene back in the starting rotation could soon be coming to an end, however.After making two rehab starts in the minor leagues this month, including one with Triple-A Louisville, Greene appears to be on the doorstep of a return to MLB.Greene is slated to make another start for Louisville on Sunday, June 28. If that goes well, the right-hander is expected to make his Reds’ season debut after that, likely next week.Reds manager Terry Francona said Greene should throw about 80-85 pitches on Sunday for Louisville, against the St. Paul Saints.Greene has been among the best starting pitchers in baseball over the last two seasons, pitching to a 2.76 ERA between 2024 and 2025. Greene pitched to a 2.76 ERA in 107.2 innings last season and started the Reds’ first playoff game in the National League Wild Card series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.Greene’s eventual return to Cincinnati’s staff will be a welcome sight for a rotation that has only two pitchers with an ERA under 4.00 this season – Chase Burns (2.00) and Andrew Abbott (3.83.)Burns has stepped up in Greene’s absence to become one of the top producing starters in baseball, sitting in the NL’s top five in wins, earned run average, strikeouts per nine innings pitched and wins above replacement.Regardless, having Greene back atop the rotation will strengthen Cincinnati’s staff in a way that no available trade could otherwise do. The Reds will be hoping Greene’s looming return can spark a turnaround from last place in the NL Central.The Reds enter Friday’s series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 37-42, a season-worst five games under .500.

CINCINNATI —

The Cincinnati Reds have been without their All-Star starting pitcher Hunter Greene for all of the 2026 season as he recovers from elbow surgery.

The wait to get Greene back in the starting rotation could soon be coming to an end, however.

After making two rehab starts in the minor leagues this month, including one with Triple-A Louisville, Greene appears to be on the doorstep of a return to MLB.

Greene is slated to make another start for Louisville on Sunday, June 28. If that goes well, the right-hander is expected to make his Reds’ season debut after that, likely next week.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Greene should throw about 80-85 pitches on Sunday for Louisville, against the St. Paul Saints.

Greene has been among the best starting pitchers in baseball over the last two seasons, pitching to a 2.76 ERA between 2024 and 2025. Greene pitched to a 2.76 ERA in 107.2 innings last season and started the Reds’ first playoff game in the National League Wild Card series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Greene’s eventual return to Cincinnati’s staff will be a welcome sight for a rotation that has only two pitchers with an ERA under 4.00 this season – Chase Burns (2.00) and Andrew Abbott (3.83.)

Burns has stepped up in Greene’s absence to become one of the top producing starters in baseball, sitting in the NL’s top five in wins, earned run average, strikeouts per nine innings pitched and wins above replacement.

Regardless, having Greene back atop the rotation will strengthen Cincinnati’s staff in a way that no available trade could otherwise do. The Reds will be hoping Greene’s looming return can spark a turnaround from last place in the NL Central.

The Reds enter Friday’s series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 37-42, a season-worst five games under .500.