In his first four starts, Hunter Greene has drawn attention for his impressive command and dominance on the mound. His exceptional outings have placed him alongside elite company, including Hall of Famers and Cy Young winners. Equally important, Greene has been pitching deep into games, easing the workload on the Reds’ bullpen and helping keep the team competitive. However, this could eventually pose a problem for Cincinnati.
As he prepares to face the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, Greene has already logged about one-fifth of his typical season workload. Over his first three years in the league, he’s averaged 129 ⅓ innings per season.
Greene exceeded 150 innings pitched for the first time in his professional career in 2024, even though he missed a significant portion of August and most of September due to an elbow injury. If the Reds expect him to consistently pitch deep into games this season, they may need to weigh the potential long-term concerns about his durability.
Hunter Greene’s ability to eat innings early in the season may set the Reds up for disappointment later on
Greene isn’t the only pitcher in the Reds’ rotation with durability questions. Nick Lodolo has a lengthy injury history, having reached the 100-inning mark just twice since beginning his professional career in 2019. Remarkably, coming into this season, Lodolo had thrown more innings during his three years in college than in his three seasons in the majors. Andrew Abbott has faced his own setbacks as well, dealing with shoulder issues over the past two years. Most recently, a rotator cuff strain cost him a chance at making the Opening Day roster.
Nick Martinez and Carson Spiers have alternated between starting and relieving roles, which has helped manage their workloads to a degree. However, their performance in 2025 has been underwhelming, and their spots in the rotation could soon be taken by Rhett Lowder or other promising Reds prospects.
Among the current starters, newcomer Brady Singer stands out as the only one with a track record of both health and consistent production. The right-hander, who still has one year of arbitration remaining, has topped 130 innings every season since being drafted in 2018—excluding the shortened 2020 campaign—and reached a career-high 179 ⅔ innings in 2024.
If the Reds want to contend, they’ll need that level of reliability. While there’s a wave of talented prospects coming up through the system, young pitchers can be unpredictable. A healthy Greene and a steady, dependable Singer could provide the foundation the team needs to stay competitive and navigate the ups and downs of a long season.
