Hunter Greene Was Baseball’s Next Big Thing. Now His Career Is in Jeopardy.
Sports Illustrated • • sports
Key Points:
- Hunter Greene, once hailed as a baseball prodigy and featured on Sports Illustrated at age 16, will undergo his second Tommy John surgery and miss the rest of 2026 and all of 2027.
- Drafted second overall by the Cincinnati Reds in 2017 with a record signing bonus, Greene showed immense talent, including a fastball clocked at 102 mph and strong batting skills as a high school player.
- After a promising MLB breakthrough in 2024 and 2025, Greene's career has been marred by injuries, including elbow issues and groin problems, limiting his playing time and effectiveness.
- Despite a lucrative six-year, $53 million contract signed in 2023, Greene's ongoing health struggles raise concerns about his ability to return to his previous elite performance level.
- Historically, pitchers undergoing a second Tommy John surgery face challenging recoveries, with only about 61% returning to the major leagues, casting uncertainty over Greene’s future in baseball.
