BREAKING NEWS: Cincinati Reds Fans Reacts in Shock as head coach Terry Francona makes surprising statements Announcing that star Pitcher Hunter Greene has been made the….see more

In a move that has stunned Cincinnati Reds fans and sent ripples through the Major League Baseball community, Reds manager Terry Francona announced on Tuesday that star pitcher Hunter Greene will transition from his starting role into the team’s full-time closer for the remainder of the season—and possibly beyond.

The announcement came during Francona’s postgame press conference following the Reds’ 5-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. When asked about recent changes to the bullpen, Francona casually dropped the bombshell that Greene, long viewed as the future ace of the rotation, would be reassigned to the closer’s role effective immediately.

> “After a lot of discussion with the staff and front office, we’ve decided that Hunter Greene is going to anchor our bullpen from the back end,” Francona said. “He’s got the velocity, the mentality, and the presence to shut games down. We think this is the best move for the team right now.”

 

A STUNNING ROLE CHANGE FOR A RISING STAR

Hunter Greene, 24, was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft and has long been considered one of the Reds’ most prized assets. Known for his blazing fastball that regularly touches 100+ mph, Greene has shown flashes of brilliance as a starter, posting dominant strikeout numbers and displaying elite upside. His powerful right arm has drawn comparisons to pitchers like Jacob deGrom and Justin Verlander.

So far this season, Greene has made 14 starts, going 5–5 with a 3.72 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 77.1 innings. Despite occasional command issues, he’s largely been viewed as a foundational piece of the Reds’ long-term rotation. That’s why Tuesday’s announcement caught everyone off guard.

> “I’m shocked. I had to double-check the notification,” said longtime Reds fan Michael Carruthers of Dayton. “Hunter is our guy. I never expected him to be coming out in the ninth inning.”

 

FRANCONA’S VISION: MAXIMIZE HIS IMPACT

Manager Terry Francona, who took over the Reds this offseason after a celebrated run with the Cleveland Guardians, has made it clear that this move is strategic, not disciplinary or injury-related. He believes Greene’s overpowering stuff can be more effectively utilized in high-leverage, late-inning situations—especially with the team in the thick of the NL Central race.

> “We’re not giving up on Hunter as a starter,” Francona clarified. “But right now, we think this is how he can most help us win. We’ve got other young arms developing, and our bullpen has needed more stability.”

 

Sources inside the Reds organization suggest that the team has been discussing the potential shift for weeks, especially given Greene’s occasional struggles going deep into games and the bullpen’s ongoing issues closing out leads.

GREENE: “WHATEVER THE TEAM NEEDS”

Greene, for his part, is embracing the change with maturity and professionalism. Speaking to reporters shortly after Francona’s announcement, he said he’s ready for the challenge and views the move as an opportunity rather than a demotion.

> “I’m all in,” Greene said. “My job is to help us win games. If that means I’m the guy in the ninth inning, then I’ll give everything I’ve got. I’m still learning, still growing, and this is just another step in the journey.”

 

Greene added that he’s already begun studying elite closers around the league, including Emmanuel Clase, Josh Hader, and Edwin Díaz, to prepare himself mentally and physically for the unique demands of the role.

FAN REACTION: MIXED EMOTIONS

The fanbase is split. Some see the move as a bold, forward-thinking decision by a seasoned manager looking to optimize talent. Others worry that Greene’s immense potential as a starter is being squandered in a short-inning role.

Social media lit up following the news, with fans expressing everything from disbelief to cautious optimism:

> “Hunter Greene is electric. I get it. But he’s supposed to be our ace for the next 10 years,” one fan posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“Honestly, if he can dominate as a closer and give us a lockdown ninth, I’m all for it. Let’s win now,” another commented.

 

WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE REDS

The Reds, currently sitting just a few games back in the NL Central, have battled inconsistency all season. The bullpen, in particular, has cost the team several late-inning leads. Francona’s decision to use Greene as a closer may stabilize a shaky relief corps and bring some urgency to the team’s playoff push.

The move also opens the door for other young starters—like Andrew Abbott, Brandon Williamson, and Carson Spiers—to step into bigger roles in the rotation.

Greene made his debut in his new role Tuesday night, throwing a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts to earn his first MLB save. The crowd at Great American Ball Park gave him a thunderous ovation.

> “It felt different,” Greene admitted. “Adrenaline, pressure, energy—I loved every second of it.”

 

LONG-TERM FUTURE STILL UNCLEAR

Whether this shift becomes permanent remains to be seen. Francona has hinted that the team will reevaluate Greene’s role after the season. For now, though, the Reds are going all-in on the idea that the fireballer can be a dominant force out of the bullpen in the short term