FAST LEARNER

Hunter Greene has thrown 100 mph since he was a teenager. Last year, by learning to really pitch, he fulfilled his potential as the Reds' ace.

- by CHARLIE GOLDSMITH

It’s May 19, 2024. Reds righthander Hunter Greene has two outs in the sixth inning against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. The Reds are down 2-1, and Dodgers second baseman Gavin Lux steps to the plate.

Needing his best pitch to keep the Reds and their taxed bullpen in the game, Greene reaches back and throws his fastest pitch of the entire season.

His 100.9 mph fastball jams the lefthanded-hitting Lux, who hits an inning-ending grounder to second base.

Even after firing that bullet, Greene still had plenty left in the tank. He went back out for the seventh inning with the score now tied and fired 99 mph pitches.

Greene made the leap in 2024 and became an all-star because he was able to use his velocity as a tool. When the Reds needed his best pitch in the biggest moment, he delivered.

“The endurance, being able to consistently be in or finish that seventh inning was huge,” Greene said during spring training, “especially being tapped as the ace.

MAY 5, 2022 In a career low point, Greene allows five home runs in one start against the Brewers

“When you get that title, you need to at least be in that seventh inning. I feel like being able to consistently do that last year was very special and good for the team. I want to be even better at that and go even deeper this year.”

This wasn’t always the case.

Greene graced the cover of Sports Illustrated when he was a 17-year-old senior at Notre Dame High in suburban Los Angeles because he threw the ball very hard. He was a candidate to be the first prep righthander in draft history to be selected No. 1 overall.

Ultimately, the Twins chose fellow SoCal prep Royce Lewis with the first pick in 2017. The Reds took Greene with the second pick.