Cincinnati Reds hurler Hunter Greene was one of the most exciting rookies of the 2022 MLB campaign.
His 4.44 ERA in 125.2 innings was not exactly stellar, but he registered the best average fastball velocity among starters, with 99 mph.
That’s on average, not peak velocity.
Yes, that is indeed impressive.
Greene can dial it up to 102 or 103 mph in game situations and actually did it a few times last season.
In those 125.2 frames, he struck out an impressive 164 hitters.
With that many strikeouts, Greene carries enormous potential for 2023 if he can hit his spots more often.
The velocity is perhaps the most impressive part of his game.
Lots of pitchers struggle to clear 90 mph and depend on other skills to succeed: ability to change speeds and planes, breaking pitches, command.
Greene, however, doesn’t have that problem.
In fact, he talked about his personal best.
Absolutely love this from Hunter Greene via @MLB :
Hardest he’s thrown: 105 mph 🔥
And he’s specific to note:
– 105 flat, no rounding
– it was a strike, he only counts it if it’s a strike pic.twitter.com/B12swi1D4m— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) February 24, 2023
105 mph is insane.
Hitters are always able to adjust but we are having a hard time thinking anyone could make quality contact to that kind of heat unless it comes right over the plate.
Imagine if it’s well-located in the insider corner, or up in the zone: that would be impossible to catch up with.
The best thing about Greene, and the element that leads us to believe he will have a long, fruitful MLB career is that he doesn’t have a control problem.
Command is something he needs to work on, though, but he doesn’t give away a ton of free passes.
With that being the case, he has potential for a sizable step forward this season.
If health is on his side, the sky is the limit.
He has a privileged arm.
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