Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene is making headlines with his exceptional performance as the 2025 MLB season unfolds. As he prepares to pitch against the Baltimore Orioles, Greene boasts an outstanding 0.98 ERA across his first 27 ⅔ innings, during which he has recorded 31 strikeouts and only four walks. This early momentum places him firmly in discussions alongside the league’s top pitchers.

Fastball Evolution

Greene’s signature weapon, his four-seam fastball, has reached new heights this season, averaging an impressive 99.4 mph—up 1.8 mph from last year. If this trend continues, it would mark a personal best for Greene, who is already known for his velocity.

Delivery Adjustments

Key to Greene’s enhanced performance are adjustments made to his pitching mechanics. By positioning himself closer to the first-base side of the rubber and achieving improved extension, Greene is able to release the ball from a distance of 6.61 feet, his best yet. This adjustment not only aids in increasing the perceived speed of his fastball but also impacts its effective velocity, which now sits at an even 100 mph.

Revamped Fastball Mechanics

In 2024, Greene made significant changes to his four-seam fastball in an effort to eliminate the “dead zone” effect—where the pitch’s vertical and horizontal break are similar, making it easier for hitters to track. Historically, Greene’s fastball has averaged around 16 inches of induced vertical break. However, last season, he experienced a reduction in horizontal break. With recent adjustments, he’s narrowed the gap between these metrics, leading to a noticeable improvement in performance.

Despite the general trend within baseball to favor off-speed pitches, Greene has opted to embrace his fastball, utilizing it 60.8% of the time—indicating both confidence and commitment to the pitch.

Pitching Against Hitters

Greene’s fastball has been extremely effective, yielding a .183 batting average and a .300 slugging percentage against his offerings. He has also recorded a 24.1% whiff rate on the pitch, showcasing its effectiveness at getting hitters to swing and miss.

Overall Improvement

Beyond his fastball, Greene has also developed his pitch repertoire, particularly his splitter, which has gained both effectiveness and velocity since its introduction in 2023. This enhancement has made him even more challenging for left-handed hitters, diversifying his approach against opposing batters.

Combining all these factors, Hunter Greene appears to be not only performing at a high level but has also evolved into a more formidable pitcher overall. While sustaining such exquisite statistics over the entire season is a daunting task, his current trajectory indicates that he could enjoy a breakout year.