Hunter Greene Avoids UCL Damage — But the Reds Rotation Still Takes a Hit

The Cincinnati Reds received encouraging news Wednesday when an MRI on Hunter Greene’s elbow revealed no damage to the ulnar collateral ligament. For a brief moment, that was the only detail that mattered. Anytime a power pitcher with Greene’s workload undergoes elbow imaging, the specter of UCL surgery inevitably hangs over the situation. The early results suggesting Greene avoided structural ligament damage represent the best-case scenario for both the right-hander and the Reds organization.

Still, the timing of the injury is difficult for Cincinnati. Greene had been expected to anchor the top of the Reds’ rotation entering the 2026 season, building off another strong campaign in which he continued to establish himself as one of baseball’s premier power arms. Even without UCL damage, elbow setbacks typically require caution, and the early expectation is that Greene will not return to the rotation until at least May. Losing their ace for the first month of the season is far from ideal for a team hoping to compete in a crowded National League playoff picture.

Greene’s absence will immediately reshape the Reds’ Opening Day rotation. Top prospects Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder were already pushing for major league innings, but Greene’s injury likely solidifies their places in the starting five to begin the year. Both pitchers bring significant upside — Burns with his overpowering fastball and swing-and-miss arsenal, and Lowder with a polished repertoire and advanced command that has allowed him to move quickly through the system. What may have been a competition for the final rotation spot now appears to have opened the door for both young arms to break camp with the big league club.

The next layer of depth could also become important early in the season. Left-hander Brandon Williamson now projects as the most likely next man up if the Reds need additional innings. Williamson has the ability to work both as a starter and in a multi-inning relief role, potentially filling a flexible swingman role similar to the one Nick Martinez handled for Cincinnati last season. That kind of versatility becomes especially valuable in April, when pitching staffs are still building up workload and teams often lean on depth to navigate the early part of the schedule.

For now, the Reds will take the positive news where they can get it. Avoiding a UCL injury keeps Greene’s long-term outlook intact and gives Cincinnati hope that their ace will return relatively early in the season. But even with that relief, the Reds will begin the year without one of the most electric arms in baseball, forcing the rotation — and the organization’s pitching depth — to step up sooner than expected.