Hunter Greene has been named as the Cincinnati Reds opening day starting pitcher. If you are surprised by this news then you probably didn’t pay much attention at all to the 2024 season.
In 2024 Hunter Greene led the National League in WAR (Baseball Reference version). The then 24-year-old threw 150.1 innings in his 26 starts and posted a 2.75 ERA for the Reds while going 9-5. He allowed just 96 hits, walked 57 batters, and he picked up 169 strikeouts during the season. Greene was named a National League All-Star for the first time in his career. He also finished 8th in the Cy Young Award voting.
Two days ago Greene made his third start of the spring and it was the best one he’s had this year out in Arizona. Taking on the Texas Rangers the right-hander threw 4.0 shutout innings while giving up just two hits, walking one batter, and striking out six. During the outing he looked like he was in midseason form, topping out at 101 MPH and just dominating the Rangers lineup.
Greene will headline a rotation that looks a bit different from what it did a year ago. Frankie Montas is gone. Nick Martinez is in the rotation to begin the year. Brady Singer has joined the club. The competition for the other two spots is up in the air due to both injury and uncertain performance from a group of about five pitchers.
The Reds will open up the season on Thursday March 27th at 4:10pm ET. They’ll be facing off against the San Francisco Giants.
Chris Sabo to lead the Opening Day Parade
It was also announced this morning that former Cincinnati Reds third baseman Chris Sabo would be the 2025 Findlay Market Opening Day Parade Grand Marshal. The Reds also announced that former Nascar driver Michael Waltrip would be the honorary grand marshal for the parade.
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