ATLANTA – The one thing that's been able to slow down Cincinnati Reds top prospect Hunter Greene at Triple-A Louisville is a minor injury in his shoulder.
Greene was scratched from his start at Louisville on Wednesday because of irritation in his right AC joint, which is where the collarbone connects to the shoulder blade. He is expected to make his next start, the Reds announced.
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The 22-year-old right-hander has been phenomenal throughout the past month. He owns a 1.98 ERA in his last five starts, striking out 37 and walking seven across 27 1/3 innings. He allowed one hit in 6 1/3 shutout innings during his outing last week, reaching 102 mph with his fastball.
It's not surprising the Reds are cautious with Greene's arm. There was no minor-league season, so he accumulated around 100 innings from his time at the alternate site and home workouts. He missed the 2019 season because of Tommy John surgery.
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Between Louisville and Double-A Chattanooga, Greene has a 2.84 ERA in 16 starts. He's totaled 120 strikeouts and 31 walks in 85 2/3 innings. He regularly sits above 100 mph with his fastball, but the development of his slider and change-up have taken him to another level.
Greene, the No. 2 pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, is rated as the 43rd-best prospect in the sport by Baseball America.
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