Greene providing stability ahead of uncertain offseason

CHICAGO – The upcoming Reds offseason will be one of uncertainty in multiple areas -- namely, who the next manager will be -- but you can count on seeing Hunter Greene's name at the top of the 2025 rotation.

Greene pitched four scoreless innings as the Reds finally got a win for interim manager Freddie Benavides with a 3-0 victory over the Cubs in 10 innings on Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field. With Game 162 in the books, Cincinnati finished the season 77-85.

"Moving forward, this is a guy who is committed to getting the 30-plus starts we need and pitching into October," said Benavides, who took over after manager David Bell was fired one week ago. "It’s outstanding for him. It’s something he can build on. It’s something to cherish, but you still have to come do it again next year. That’s the goal.”

It was Greene's second start back from the injured list after getting over a sore right elbow, so he was once again on a limited pitch count. Over his four scoreless innings and 65 pitches, he gave up one hit and three walks with three strikeouts.

A first-time All-Star in 2024 during the second season of his six-year, $53 million contract, Greene finished with a 9-5 record and a 2.75 ERA. His 169 strikeouts, 26 starts and 150 1/3 innings set new career highs.

Over his final 10 starts, Greene had a 1.09 ERA. Had there not been a six-week gap while he was on the IL, the 25-year-old would likely have received some votes for the National League Cy Young Award.

“There’s a lot of mixed emotions," Greene said. "Obviously, I had a really great year this year. But I’m not here just to have a great year myself. The team, we came up short on a lot of fronts. I’m happy, but at the same time, I’m affected by everyone. Everyone is affected by each other.

"There’s a lot we’ve got to work on in the offseason, a lot of soul-searching, a lot of adjustments we have to make. I think what is really important is kind of looking at yourself in the mirror and being able to see what you really have to work on.”

Greene had to work through a couple of jams. He opened the second inning with back-to-back walks and had runners on the corners with one out before getting out of it. Seiya Suzuki led off the Cubs' fourth inning with a single and Michael Busch walked before Greene retired the rest of the side in order.

The final pitch of the season for Greene in 2024 was a 97 mph fastball to strike out Christian Bethancourt. He was fired up walking to the dugout.

“I obviously showed a lot of emotion," Greene said. "I was super happy with being able to finish strong there.”

The Reds, who snapped a five-game losing streak, had been held scoreless for 28 consecutive innings until the top of the 10th. That inning started ominously, as automatic runner Noelvi Marte got picked off at second base by reliever Ethan Roberts.

Luke Maile followed with a leadoff single and Jonathan India walked. In an 0-2 count, Elly De La Cruz came through with a triple to right field that scored pinch-runner Blake Dunn and India. Tyler Stephenson's RBI single to center field scored De La Cruz.

“After Marte getting picked off -- which is basically unacceptable -- and he knows the mistake that he made, the boys picked him up," Benavides said. "We came back. Elly, before the day, said he was going to get me that win. Sure enough, he came up big.”

Greene has personal goals of his own for next season, including reaching 180-200 innings, but not all of them involve numbers and performance.

As the rookie Marte's mistake demonstrated, the Reds are still young and mistake-prone. Greene is interested in making his own evolution from young pitcher to veteran leader as he prepares to enter his fourth Major League season.

"That’s the biggest thing, understanding the impact that I had this year," Greene said. "I know I’ve always had that impact, but there’s a clubhouse dynamic that a lot of people don’t understand unless you’re in the clubhouse. And you have to play it right when you’re trying to be a leader.

"I believe I’ve played it right these first two years … but there’s a lot more levels to the leader I want to be. I know what that looks like and I’m going to work on that in the offseason and make sure I connect with the guys that much more and push these guys to be the best version of themselves.”