Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene is nearing a return to the major league rotation after recovering from March surgery to address bone chips in his right elbow. His impending comeback presents a rare opportunity for fantasy baseball managers to acquire a high-upside player mid-season.
In his initial two rehabilitation starts, Greene demonstrated promising form, consistently throwing his fastball in the upper 90s over eight scoreless innings. He posted a 10.1 strikeouts-per-nine-innings ratio and a 2.3 walks-per-nine rate during this period. Greene is slated to throw between 80 and 85 pitches in a third rehab outing on Sunday. If this start goes as planned, he could rejoin the Reds for his season debut as early as Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles.
Fantasy managers often face uncertainty when adding players during the season, relying on waiver claims or developing prospects. However, Greene's talent is considered a significant draw, with the potential to be a league-altering acquisition. The article suggests that his injury history should not deter managers from adding him to their rosters due to his considerable upside.
Baltimore entered the weekend series having recorded the third-most strikeouts in the majors against right-handed pitchers, a statistic that could be relevant for Greene's potential return game.