Hunter Greene is back, and that’s great news for the Cincinnati Reds.
It’s even better when he pitches the way he did Wednesday night against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Greene went six dominant innings at home against Philadelphia, allowing three hits and striking out six.
With the outing, Greene lowered his season ERA to 2.47.
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Greene hadn’t pitched at the MLB level since June 3. He went on the injured list after that as he dealt with a low-grade groin strain. It wasn’t what Cincinnati or anyone wanted for the former No. 2 overall pick, but it was the hand they were dealt.
For about a month, Greene couldn’t get on a mound at all. He began his rehab in the Reds’ Arizona complex in mid July, and he worked his way back to the majors through a handful of rehab appearances. His return came at a crucial time for a big series.
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Greene’s ERA for the season is the best of his career, and it’ll only go down more if he has more scoreless outings.
The powerful right-hander has now struck out 79 batters in 65.2 innings on the MLB season.
Cincinnati needed wins in this series against the Phillies to start chipping away at a playoff spot. Philadelphia is really good and has a potent lineup, but Greene proved that at his best, he’s better.
It’s a beautiful sight to see for fans of the Reds. If Greene can do this every five days, their chances of getting to the postseason have officially gone up.
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