Hunter Greene

Christian Hunter Greene was born on August 6, 1999, in Los Angeles, California. He began his baseball journey at the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy in Compton at age seven. Throughout his high school career at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California, Greene demonstrated exceptional talent both as a pitcher and a shortstop. He maintained a 1.62 ERA over 121.1 innings with a 30% strikeout rate. As a senior, he recorded a 3-0 record with a 0.75 ERA, while offensively batting .324 with six home runs and 28 RBIs. In April 2017, Greene was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, highlighting his emerging status in the sport.

Greene was selected by the Cincinnati Reds as the second overall pick in the 2017 MLB draft. He signed a contract with a $7.23 million bonus, which was notable for its size at the time. His professional career began in the Reds’ farm system with the Billings Mustangs. While progressing through the minor leagues, he encountered a setback in 2018 when he sprained his ulnar collateral ligament, leading to Tommy John surgery in 2019. Following recovery and the cancellation of the 2020 Minor League Baseball season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Greene returned to play in 2021. He moved from the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts to the Triple-A Louisville Bats, where he posted a combined 10-8 record with a 3.30 ERA and 139 strikeouts across 106.1 innings.

Hunter Greene made his Major League Baseball debut on April 10, 2022, with the Cincinnati Reds. In his second MLB game, he set a record by throwing 39 pitches at 100 mph or faster. He finished his rookie season with a 5–13 record and a 4.44 ERA over 125.2 innings, along with 164 strikeouts. In 2023, he continued as the Reds’ Opening Day starter and led the team in strikeouts for the second consecutive season, despite missing significant time due to hip pain and COVID-19. He was also nominated for the prestigious Lou Gehrig Memorial Award. In 2024, Greene was named an NL All-Star and recorded a 9–5 record with a 2.75 ERA and 169 strikeouts over 150.1 innings. On April 2, 2025, he achieved his 500th career strikeout, becoming one of the fastest Reds pitchers to reach this milestone. He later faced additional injury setbacks in 2025 with groin strains, impacting his season performance.