MLB Pipeline is gearing up for their pre-season Top 100 prospect list that will come out later this offseason. As a run up to that list, though, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo publish top 10 lists for each position. They kicked things off yesterday in the evening by publishing the Top 10 right-handed pitching prospects list. The Cincinnati Reds had one representative on the list – Hunter Greene.
The Houston Astros Forrest Whitley tops the list. Cincinnati’s top pitching prospect, Hunter Greene, comes in as the tenth best prospect. He was tied with Michael Kopech, of the White Sox, for best fastball. Both pitchers routinely hit 100 MPH as starters and get a grade of 80 on the pitch.
After a tough start to the season for Hunter Greene, he made some adjustments and dominated over the final 2.5 months of his season. From May 12th through July 26th he posted a 2.91 ERA in 58.2 innings pitched. He allowed just 45 hits, 4 home runs, 13 walks, and he struck out 71 batters. But that’s where his season came to an end as he suffered a sprained UCL.
A sprained UCL means that his UCL is torn. That usually means that Tommy John surgery is going to be the next thing for a player. But Hunter Greene opted to go with the rehab route that pitchers Michael Lorenzen and Anthony DeSclafani also had success with. Near the end of October, Greene announced that his elbow was 100% and that he was feeling great. A little more than a month ago he returned to throwing and has no restrictions as he prepares for the 2019 season.
The schedule for the other positions is as follows:
- Left-Handed Pitchers | Wednesday the 16th
- Catchers | Thursday the 17th
- First Basemen | Friday the 18th
- Second Basemen | Monday the 21st
- Third Basemen | Tuesday the 22nd
- Shortstop | Wednesday the 23rd
- Outfielders | Thursday the 24th
- The Top 100 List | Saturday the 26th
Mark your calendars. Or just keep checking back here, as I’ll publish updates if and when Cincinnati Reds prospects crack any of the lists.