Cincinnati Reds top pitching prospect Hunter Greene will undergo Tommy John surgery after suffering a setback last week in Arizona, the team announced on Monday.
The 19-year-old was originally shut down last August with a UCL sprain in his right elbow. He'll now miss the 2019 season.
Despite the lost campaign, Greene tweeted that he's in great spirits and looking forward to his return.
The Reds selected him second overall in the 2017 draft. While there was some thought he may be used as a two-way player, Greene converted to a full-time pitcher in Cincinnati's system.
Before the injury, he had gone 3-7 with a 4.48 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 11.72 K/9 over 18 starts at Single-A in 2018.
Greene is listed as Cincinnati's third-ranked prospect behind Nick Senzel and Taylor Trammell, and MLB Pipeline ranks him as the 31st-best prospect in baseball.
