Reds pitcher Hunter Greene to come off injured list Saturday for season debut against Orioles

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds plan to reinstate pitcher Hunter Greene from the 60-day injured list to make his season debut Saturday night against the Baltimore Orioles.

>Greene’s return is a boost to a Cincinnati rotation that also features 23-year-old Chase Burns, who is 10-1 with a 2.40 ERA in 17 starts this season.

>The Reds entered the three-game weekend series against Baltimore in last place in the NL Central with a 40-46 record but still hope to climb back into the wild-card race.

>“You’ve seen our team and other teams get really hot,” Greene said. “That’s our mindset. I’m confident that I’ll be a really good asset to that full picture.”

>The 26-year-old Greene, an All-Star in 2024, has been on the IL since March 23 after undergoing surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow. It was the latest setback for the hard-throwing right-hander, who hasn’t made more than 26 starts in any of his four major league seasons.

>He made three minor league rehab starts, including two at Triple-A Louisville, going 1-0 with 13 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings. His fastball topped out at 101 mph.

>Greene threw 82 pitches over 6 1/3 innings in his final rehab outing, allowing one hit and striking out four.

>Reds manager Terry Francona said Friday he doesn’t plan to limit Greene’s workload.

>“I think he’s strong enough (and) stretched out enough, healthy enough, where we’re going to get him back, not just in name only, but in production also,” Francona said.

>Greene went 7-4 with a 2.76 ERA and 132 strikeouts over 107 2/3 innings in 2025 despite two stints on the IL with a right groin strain.

>He is 25-29 with a 3.65 ERA and 617 strikeouts in 495 2/3 innings over 91 career starts for the Reds.