Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Mlbtraderumors will undergo surgery on his right elbow, ending his 2026 season, according to Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall. The upcoming procedure will pertain to Greene’s elbow ligament, though the exact extent and specifics of the surgery will remain unknown until surgeons begin the operation and evaluate the damage to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL).
Hunter Greene to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery
The decision for surgery followed medical evaluations from Reds team doctor Dr. Timothy Kremcheck and Los Angeles-based orthopaedic surgeon nytimes.com. Greene was initially placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to August 5 after experiencing soreness in his right elbow during a side session. Whether the procedure will require a full UCL reconstruction, commonly known as Tommy John surgery, or an internal brace procedure will only be determined once the operation is underway.
Recovery from an internal brace procedure typically requires around 12 months without setbacks, while Tommy John rehabilitation generally takes closer to 14 months in today’s game. Consequently, Greene will be sidelined for most of the 2027 season as well.
Truncated 2026 Season and Injury History
Greene’s 2026 campaign concludes with just 27 2/3 innings pitched across five starts, resulting in a 2-2 record and a 6.83 ERA. He began the year on the injured list after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on March 11 to remove bone chips and loose bodies from his right elbow. After returning to the MLB.com rotation on July 4, he experienced mixed results over his five outings before reporting renewed discomfort after his bullpen session.
This will mark the second UCL surgery of Greene’s professional career, following a previous Tommy John procedure in 2019 prior to his Major League debut. Selected second overall in the 2017 draft, the right-hander has faced recurring health challenges in his big league career, landing on the injured list at least once in each of his first five MLB seasons. Despite these setbacks, Greene established himself as one of the game’s top young pitchers during a strong 2024-25 stretch, posting a 2.76 ERA with a 29.2% strikeout rate over 45 starts and earning an NL All-Star selection in 2024.
Impact on the Cincinnati Reds Rotation and Roster Outlook
Losing Greene for the remainder of 2026 and a significant portion of 2027 creates a major obstacle for the Cincinnati front office. Greene is currently in the fourth season of a six-year, $53 million contract extension signed in April 2023, with his salary scheduled to jump from $8 million to $15 million.
The Reds’ rotation depth will be heavily tested moving forward. Beyond Greene, the team’s depth chart features recently extended ace Yahoo Sports, oft-injured nytimes.com—who has spent time on the injured list with a left index finger blister—and former No. 7 overall pick Rhett Lowder, alongside depth arms like Brandon Williamson, who has recovered from shoulder fatigue. Following Greene’s roster placement, the Reds recalled right-handed reliever Luis Mey from Triple-A Louisville.
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