Key keywords: Hunter Greene, Cincinnati Reds, injured list, MLB starting pitcher, right elbow discomfort, 2024 MLB regular season, Reds starting rotation, IL stint, MLB postseason race, arm injury prevention The Cincinnati Reds officially announced on Wednesday that 24-year-old ace right-hander Hunter Greene has been placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to September 5, with right elbow inflammation marking his second IL stint of the 2024 season. The news comes just three weeks after Greene returned from a 40-day absence related to the same elbow issue, sparking concern among fans and team leadership about the long-term health of one of the franchise’s most promising young talents. Greene, widely regarded as one of the hardest-throwing starting pitchers in MLB history, left his most recent start against the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 4 after throwing only 64 pitches across 3 innings, with radar gun readings showing his signature four-seam fastball had dropped an average of 3 mph from his season average of 99.8 mph. Post-game medical evaluations confirmed no structural damage to the ulnar collateral ligament, the same ligament he had reconstructed via Tommy John surgery in 2018, with team doctors describing the injury as mild inflammation caused by overuse in his first four starts back from his earlier IL stint. Reds manager David Bell addressed the media following the announcement, noting that the decision to place Greene back on the IL was a precautionary measure aimed at avoiding a more severe, career-altering injury. “Hunter’s been a huge part of our success this year, and we all know how badly he wants to be out there with his teammates fighting for a playoff spot,” Bell told reporters. “But we have to prioritize his long-term health first. The medical team is confident that with 15 days of rest and targeted rehab, he’ll be able to return to the rotation before the end of the regular season, and be fully healthy for any playoff run we make.” Through 19 starts this season, Greene has posted a 3.82 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 127 strikeouts across 101.1 innings pitched, anchoring a Reds starting rotation that has been plagued by inconsistency and injury for most of the year. The Reds currently sit in second place in the National League Central division, and hold the third and final National League wild card spot with 21 games remaining in the regular season. Team general manager Nick Krall confirmed that the team will call up 26-year-old right-hander Lyon Richardson from Triple-A Louisville to fill Greene’s spot in the rotation for the time being, with additional bullpen arms being added to the active roster to cover extra innings as needed. Greene also released a statement via his social media accounts, thanking fans for their support and expressing his frustration at the setback, but noting that he trusted the team’s medical staff and was committed to returning as soon as possible without putting his future at risk. “I’ve put in too much work to come back from bigger injuries before to rush this now,” Greene wrote. “I’ll be cheering my guys on every day while I’m out, and I’ll be back on the mound before you know it to help us bring home a championship.”