Hunter Greene (baseball) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hunter Greene
Greene with the Louisville Bats in 2021
Cincinnati Reds – No. 21
Pitcher
Born: (1999-08-06) August 6, 1999 (age 25) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
debut
April 10, 2022, for the Cincinnati Reds
MLB statistics (through 2024 season)
Win–loss record	18–25
Earned run average	3.90
Strikeouts	485
Teams
Cincinnati Reds (2022–present)
Career highlights and awards
All-Star (2024)
Medals Men's baseball Representing USA U-15 Baseball World Cup Silver 2014 Mazatlán Team U-18 Baseball World Cup Gold 2015 Osaka Team

Christian Hunter Greene (born August 6, 1999) is a talented American professional baseball pitcher. He plays for the Cincinnati Reds in Major League Baseball (MLB). The Reds chose him as the second overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft.

Hunter grew up in Los Angeles, California. He learned to pitch at the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy in Compton. His fastball was incredibly fast in high school. It went from 93 mph to an amazing 102 mph! After high school, the Reds drafted him. He joined their minor league teams. Hunter had an elbow injury in 2018. He needed Tommy John surgery and couldn't play in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But he came back strong in 2021!

In 2022, Hunter joined the Reds' main team. In only his second major league game, he set an MLB record. He threw 39 pitches at 100 mph or faster! He was also chosen for his first All-Star Game in 2024.

Early Life and High School Baseball

Hunter Greene was born on August 6, 1999, in Los Angeles, California. His mom was an educational consultant. His dad worked as a private investigator. When he was seven, Hunter joined the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy in Compton, California. This is where he learned how to pitch. He also played in youth events hosted by Major League Baseball (MLB).

At Notre Dame High School, Hunter played shortstop when he wasn't pitching. His fastball was 93 mph when he was a freshman. By his senior year, it was an incredible 102 mph! During his high school career, Hunter had a 1.62 earned run average (ERA). He struck out many batters. In his senior year, he had a 3–0 win-loss record and a 0.75 ERA. He also batted well, hitting .324 with six home runs. In 2017, Hunter was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Hunter's Professional Baseball Journey

Draft and Minor League Years (2017–2021)

Many people thought Hunter would be the first player picked in the 2017 MLB draft. But the Minnesota Twins chose another player. The Cincinnati Reds then picked Hunter second overall. Hunter had planned to play college baseball at UCLA. But he decided to sign a professional contract with the Reds instead. His signing bonus was $7.23 million. This was a very high amount for a draft pick.

After signing, Hunter joined the Billings Mustangs. This was a Rookie-level team in the Reds' farm system. He mostly pitched, but sometimes played as a designated hitter. He started three games for the Mustangs. He also batted .233 in 10 games.

In 2018, Hunter played for the Dayton Dragons. He found it tough at first against older players. But he improved a lot with coaching. He had a great nine-game stretch with a 2.78 ERA. He also struck out 54 batters. Hunter's season ended early in August. He hurt his right elbow. Doctors hoped it would heal without surgery. But in March 2019, he needed Tommy John surgery to fix the ligament.

Hunter did not pitch in 2020. This was because the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the Minor League Baseball season. When he returned in 2021, he played for the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts. He pitched very well there, going 5–0 with a 1.98 ERA. He struck out 60 batters in 41 innings. Because of his great performance, he was promoted to the Triple-A Louisville Bats in June. He continued to pitch well for the Bats. The Reds limited his innings for the season to protect his arm. Overall in 2021, Hunter had a 3.30 ERA and 139 strikeouts. The Reds added him to their 40-man roster to keep him safe from other teams.

Playing for the Cincinnati Reds (2022–Present)

Hunter impressed coaches during spring training. He made the Reds' Opening Day roster for the 2022 MLB season. He made his major league debut on April 10. He helped the Reds win against the Atlanta Braves. Hunter allowed three runs and struck out seven batters.

In his second start, on April 17 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Hunter set an MLB record. He threw 39 pitches at 100 mph or faster! The previous record was 33 pitches. Hunter had a tough start to his major league career. But he improved a lot over his next games. On August 1, he pitched six scoreless innings against the Miami Marlins. He was placed on the injured list a few days later with a shoulder strain.

In 2023, Hunter had a 3.93 ERA in 14 starts. He was placed on the injured list in June with hip pain. He returned to play in August.

Playing for Team USA

Hunter first played for the United States in 2014. This was at the 2014 15U Baseball World Cup in Mexico. He pitched well in his first game, striking out four batters. His fastball reached 93 mph. Team USA won a silver medal in this tournament. They lost to Cuba in the championship game.

The next year, Hunter played for Team USA again. This time it was at the 2015 U-18 Baseball World Cup in Japan. Hunter and Team USA won the gold medal! They beat the host team, Japan, in a close 2–1 championship game.

Hunter's Pitching Style

Hunter Greene's main pitch is his four-seam fastball. It usually averages around 99 mph. But it has been recorded as fast as 104 mph in the minor leagues! He also throws two breaking balls: a slider and a changeup.

When he was in the minor leagues, people wondered if he would develop other pitches. He stopped throwing a curveball to focus on his slider. His control of pitches got better as he moved up. His changeup was still developing when he first reached the major leagues.

Hunter's Life Outside Baseball

Hunter Greene and his family live in Stevenson Ranch, California. He has two younger siblings. His sister, Libriti, was diagnosed with leukemia when she was five. She went into remission four years later. When he's not playing baseball, Hunter enjoys painting and playing the violin.