Story perspectives

Reds' Hunter Greene Faces Season-Ending Elbow Surgery

8/8/2026

Summary

Story summary

Reds president Nick Krall announced right-hander Hunter Greene will have season-ending elbow surgery next week.
The exact procedure—internal-brace repair or full Tommy John reconstruction—will not be known until the operation begins.
Greene is entering his third elbow surgery after Tommy John surgery in 2019 and an arthroscopic procedure on March 11, 2026.
The rotation now relies on Brady Singer, Chase Petty, Andrew Abbott, Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder.

History

Historical Context

The first Tommy John ligament reconstruction, performed on pitcher Tommy John in 1974, saved his career and sparked a new era of sports medicine. Dr. James Andrews led the procedure, and by 2020 over 10,000 MLB pitchers had undergone the surgery, achieving an 85% return-to-play rate. Today, Reds manager Nick Krall faces a similar dilemma as Hunter Greene prepares for his third elbow operation, echoing surgery’s role in preserving pitching depth. The pattern suggests teams will increasingly invest in advanced orthopedic programs, like the Cleveland Clinic’s 2022 $150 million sports-medicine wing, to mitigate future roster disruptions.

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Story summary

Reds president Nick Krall announced right-hander Hunter Greene will have season-ending elbow surgery next week.
The exact procedure—internal-brace repair or full Tommy John reconstruction—will not be known until the operation begins.
Greene is entering his third elbow surgery after Tommy John surgery in 2019 and an arthroscopic procedure on March 11, 2026.
The rotation now relies on Brady Singer, Chase Petty, Andrew Abbott, Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder.

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