Reds Ace Hunter Greene Undergoes Second Tommy John Surgery, Will Miss All of 2027 Season

On Wednesday, August 12, the worst-case scenario for the Cincinnati Reds' rotation materialized in a Los Angeles operating room. Ace right-hander Hunter Greene underwent a full revision of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow—his second career Tommy John surgery—officially ending his abbreviated 2026 campaign and sidelining him for the entirety of the 2027 season. The operation deals a devastating blow to a franchise that had built its long-term competitive window around the 27-year-old's electric arm. After months of navigating intermittent elbow issues and a delayed start to the year, the final diagnosis confirmed the organization's deepest fears, removing their premier starter from the mound until at least the spring of 2028.[1][2]

The procedure, confirmed by Reds manager Terry Francona on Thursday, requires a grueling 12- to 18-month recovery timeline. Medical staff and team officials had initially hoped the damage might be mitigated by a less extensive internal brace procedure, which carries a significantly shorter rehabilitation window. However, doctors ultimately opted for the full UCL reconstruction after getting a firsthand look at the structural damage to the joint during the operation. The decision reflects the severity of the tear and the necessity of a complete repair for a pitcher whose arsenal relies on high-velocity mechanics.[1][3]

The immediate setback stems from a routine side bullpen session on August 4, where Greene reported acute soreness to the team's medical staff. According to Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall, Greene had actually been experiencing intermittent discomfort for several weeks prior to that session. The right-hander initially attributed the pain to the normal recovery process from an arthroscopic procedure he underwent in March to remove bone chips and loose bodies from the same elbow. Because he believed he was simply pushing through expected post-surgical soreness, Greene did not immediately alert the training staff to the lingering issue.[1][4]

Following the August 4 bullpen, Greene visited team orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tim Kremchek for an MRI before traveling to Los Angeles for a second opinion from renowned specialist Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Both physicians agreed that the ligament required surgical intervention, though the exact nature of the procedure remained uncertain until ElAttrache began the operation. The surgery abruptly halts a frustrating season where Greene posted a 6.83 ERA and a much stronger 3.55 FIP over 27 2/3 innings across five starts, having just returned to the major league mound on July 4 after months of rehabilitation.[1][2]

For Greene, the surgery represents the latest and most severe hurdle in a professional career defined by immense, undeniable talent and persistent health obstacles. The former No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft previously underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019 while pitching in the minor leagues. Despite breaking out as a frontline All-Star in 2024 with a dominant 2.75 ERA and a massive strikeout rate, he has spent time on the injured list in each of his five major league seasons. The recurring arm issues raise long-term questions about his durability and whether his high-octane mechanics can sustain a starter's workload over a full 162-game schedule.[2][5]

The ripple effects for the Cincinnati Reds are immediate, structural, and deeply problematic for their competitive timeline. The organization had envisioned a formidable, cost-controlled rotation anchored by Greene and rising star Chase Burns, supported by reliable left-hander Andrew Abbott. With Greene now completely removed from the equation for the next calendar year, the front office faces a massive void in both innings and frontline quality. The loss transforms what was supposed to be the team's greatest asset into a glaring vulnerability, forcing a complete reevaluation of their pitching depth chart.[2][6]

The timing of the injury severely complicates Cincinnati's roster construction and financial flexibility. Greene is currently in the fourth season of a six-year, $53 million contract extension that runs through 2028, with a $21 million club option for 2029. With veteran starter Brady Singer approaching free agency at the end of this season, the Reds will likely need to spend aggressively in the winter market to patch a rotation that was designed to be self-sustaining. The front office must now pivot from supplementing a strong core to actively rebuilding the top of their starting staff.[3][5]

"Whatever it is, you adjust," Francona told reporters when asked about navigating the remainder of the season without his ace, emphasizing that the club cannot afford to dwell on the loss. But as the Reds look toward 2027, the required adjustment will demand far more than just internal depth or minor league call-ups. It demands a fundamental shift in how the franchise approaches the next two years, challenging ownership and management to find external solutions for a rotation that just lost its most important foundational piece.[1][4]