MLB injury Archives

Hunter Greene to miss start of 2026 season after elbow procedure

3/11/2026

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The Cincinnati Reds will begin the 2026 season without one of their most electric arms.

Star right-hander Hunter Greene announced that he will undergo surgery Wednesday to remove bone spurs from his elbow, a procedure that will sideline him for the start of the upcoming MLB season.

Greene revealed details of the injury in a statement posted to his Instagram Stories, explaining that elbow discomfort first surfaced late in the 2025 season.

“I felt no discomfort a few days later, and as I started my offseason throwing program, I felt great,” Greene said, according to SI’s Greg Kuffner. (Source) “However, the pain returned as I got close to the start of camp and as I began throwing harder and manipulating pitches more. The irritation in my elbow is affecting my ability to finish and execute pitches without a sharp stabbing pain. I simply need to have the bone spurs removed.

“All I want to do is play the game I love and compete with my brothers as we take on the 2026 season. But it’s important that this procedure take place now instead of trying to pitch through it, not be sharp on the mound and risk further injury. Trust me, nobody is more frustrated than I am.”

Greene initially experienced the elbow irritation during the closing stretch of the 2025 campaign. After the season ended, he underwent an MRI in Los Angeles that revealed bone fragments in the elbow. At the time, doctors recommended standard treatment rather than immediate surgery.

The 26-year-old right-hander remains one of the hardest throwers in Major League Baseball and has developed into a key piece of Cincinnati’s rotation.

During the 2025 season, Greene posted a 2.76 ERA with 132 strikeouts across 19 starts. A right groin strain earlier in the year forced him to miss several weeks before he returned to the mound on Aug. 13.

Greene previously earned his first All-Star selection in 2024 after posting a 2.75 ERA with 169 strikeouts. That season also included a brief stint on the injured list due to elbow soreness.

The Reds finished the 2025 campaign with an 83–79 record, placing third in the National League Central.

With Greene sidelined to begin 2026, Cincinnati’s pitching depth will be tested early as the club looks to remain competitive in a tightly contested division.

Phillies to shift to a six-man rotation when Aaron Nola returns Sunday

The Philadelphia Phillies will shift to a six-man rotation beginning this weekend as veteran starter Aaron Nola returns to the big-league club, manager Rob Thomson confirmed Thursday.

Nola, 31-years-old, is scheduled to start Sunday in the series finale against the Washington Nationals. It will be his first major league appearance since May 14, after missing extended time with a right ankle sprain. The rotation shuffle is designed to give Philadelphia’s arms some much-needed rest as the team continues to lead the National League East and push toward October.

Thomson noted the change isn’t necessarily permanent but emphasized its importance in managing workload down the stretch.

“Once for sure, and then we’ve got some other ideas how to attack this thing as we move forward,” Thomson told reporters before Thursday’s series opener against the Nationals.

With Nola back in the mix, Philadelphia’s rotation now features six dependable arms: Zack Wheeler, Ranger Suárez, Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, Taijuan Walker, and Nola. The added man allows for additional rest days for a group that’s logged more innings than any other rotation in baseball.

Managing a Heavy Workload

Philadelphia starters lead the majors with 693⅓ innings pitched. Sánchez is already at 150⅔ innings, and Wheeler has logged 144⅔, prompting the coaching staff to find creative ways to protect arms before the postseason.

“Just getting some of these guys some extra rest ’cause we’ve been grinding on them pretty hard all year,” Thomson explained. “The one downside to it is you’ve got to take somebody out of your bullpen, so you’re a little short there, but we’ll just have to figure it out.”

Wheeler and Suarez have shouldered ace duties for much of the season, while Sánchez and Luzardo have taken big steps forward. Walker has provided needed depth, but the team now adds back a right-hander who has postseason pedigree and playoff poise.

Nola Sharp in Rehab Outings

Before rejoining the club, Nola made three rehab starts at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, posting a 2.19 ERA while striking out 17 over 12⅓ innings. Reports indicate he’s regained form and velocity, making him a potentially pivotal asset for Philadelphia’s stretch run.

Nola’s presence also offers the Phillies more strategic flexibility — both with rotation sequencing and bullpen usage. Even if the six-man setup is temporary, it’s a sign that the club is prioritizing health and playoff readiness over chasing short-term wins.

Whether the rotation plan sticks remains to be seen, but for now, it’s clear Philadelphia is all-in on protecting its arms while maintaining its NL East lead.

Aaron Judge Targets Quick Return from Injury, Will DH Upon Activation

The New York Yankees may not be without Aaron Judge for long.

The reigning AL MVP is working his way back from a strained flexor muscle and could return after the minimum 10-day injured list stint, according to manager Aaron Boone. Judge is expected to resume swinging off a tee and taking soft toss reps within the next 24 to 48 hours.“I think he’s going to start hitting off the tee and some toss today or tomorrow,” Boone said Tuesday on the Talkin’ Yankees podcast.

Aaron Judge Injury Update: What to Expect

Aaron Boone confirmed that superstar Aaron Judge will not resume throwing for another 10 to 15 days. That timeline virtually ensures that the slugger will serve as a designated hitter when he’s activated, with outfield work postponed until his arm is fully healed.

“There’s the feeling that if he just DH’d now, that he probably would not compromise his UCL,” Boone told ESPN reporters. “Throwing would. That said, there is a gripping component to it… probably somewhat affecting him offensively, too.”

The club ruled out using Judge at first base as a workaround, a strategy that the Philadelphia Phillies once employed with Bryce Harper under similar injury circumstances.

Yankees Betting on His Return

In 103 games before the injury, Judge was producing an MVP-caliber season, slashing .342/.449/.771 with 37 home runs. He led all of MLB in OPS, OPS+, WAR, total bases, and hits.

While Judge has since slipped to second in the AL MVP race behind Cal Raleigh—who has 41 home runs and -125 odds—he still holds the second-best odds at -105, per FanDuel Sportsbook.

Yankees Roster Moves Amid Absence

The Yankees entered Tuesday at 57–49, trailing the red-hot Blue Jays—who are 17–6 this month—in the AL playoff race. In response to Judge’s absence, New York added Ryan McMahon and Amed Rosario to help reinforce the lineup.

Whether those moves are enough—or if the Yankees will add more pieces before the Thursday’s trade deadline—remains to be seen. But one thing is clear, the club is hopeful that its captain won’t be sidelined for much longer.

Dodgers reliever exits last night’s game with arm pain

Veteran reliever Tanner Scott exited Monday night’s game against the Minnesota Twins in the top of the ninth inning after experiencing pain in his left pitching arm. The incident occurred with one out while Scott was facing Minnesota catcher Ryan Jeffers.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts provided a brief update postgame.“He said it felt like a sting,” Roberts told MLB.com’s Sonja Chen.

“The X-ray and some of the initial manual tests didn’t show anything serious, but we’re being cautious.”

Scott is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Tuesday to determine the extent of the injury. Roberts hinted that the left-hander is likely headed to the injured list, regardless of the results.“Hopefully it’s something that’s more of a scare and then we can kind of put him on ice for a little bit and get him back,” Roberts added.

Scott, 31, has been the Dodgers’ primary closer this season. He owns a subpar 1-2 record with a 4.14 ERA and a team-leading 19 saves in 2025. He gave up a run and issued two walks on 22 pitches across two-thirds of an inning before leaving the mound.

The Dodgers’ bullpen has already endured multiple injuries this season. If the Dodgers closer misses extended time, manager Dave Roberts and the front office will need to consider internal promotions or explore the trade market as the MLB trade deadline nears.

Stay tuned for updates on Scott’s MRI results and the Dodgers’ next move as they navigate another potential bullpen setback.

Tag: MLB injury

Managing a Heavy Workload

Nola Sharp in Rehab Outings