CHICAGO -- Cincinnati Reds All-Star pitcher Hunter Greene is expected to miss all of next season after undergoing the second Tommy John surgery of his professional career this week. Until the extent of the injury was discovered during the surgery Wednesday (Aug. 12) in Los Angeles, the team had held out hope that a lesser, "internal brace" procedure could be done instead. That's a surgery that requires less recovery and rehab time and that might have allowed Greene to return for the second half next season. Instead, the broad expectation is a 12-18-month timeline, which is expected to keep him out until the 2028 season. It's a big blow for the Reds' competitive plans over the next year-plus. Greene is a two-time Opening Day starter who produced a 16-9 record and 2.76 ERA over 45 starts in 2024-25 before the elbow issues all but wiped out his 2026 season. “We wanted him to come into this season being our ace. And when you don’t have it, it doesn’t help,” manager Terry Francona said. “It doesn’t mean you stop playing." As for the toughness of the task of compensating for the long-term loss, “It kind of depends on who’s filling in,” Francona added, “and how they do (to know) how much you miss.” Greene, who is on the injured list for the seventh time in his five-year MLB career, had surgery on the same elbow in March to remove bone chips. He made five starts after returning from that rehab on July 4, going 2-2 with a 6.83 ERA, a stretch that included a gem against the Chicago Cubs in his second start back (seven scoreless innings, 12 strikeouts). Greene also had Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery as a minor-leaguer in 2018. He is in the fourth guaranteed year of a six-year, $53 million contract that pays him $15 million next season and $16 million in 2028. It includes a $21 million club option for 2029 (with a $2 million buyout clause).
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds' Hunter Greene to miss 2027 season after 2nd Tommy John surgery