Cincinnati Reds ace Hunter Greene will undergo arthroscopic elbow surgery Wednesday to remove bone chips, sidelining him until July. The 26-year-old right-hander left spring training camp last week with elbow stiffness and consulted specialists including Dr. Neal ElAttrache before deciding on the procedure.

Greene, who posted a 2.76 ERA in 19 starts last season, had been expected to anchor the Reds' rotation after helping the team reach the playoffs for the first time since 2020. His fastball averaged 99.5 mph last season, leading the majors among pitchers with at least 1,250 pitches thrown. The injury is particularly frustrating given Greene's offseason focus on lower-body conditioning to prevent injuries.

The Reds have named left-hander Andrew Abbott as their Opening Day starter against the Boston Red Sox on March 26. Abbott, also 26, will make his first Opening Day start after earning his first All-Star selection last season in his third year with Cincinnati.