SHOCK: Reds’ Ace Transforms from All-Star Candidate to Cy Young Contender with Key Adjustment to Pitching Arsenal

Even after a tough outing against the Baltimore Orioles in his last start, Hunter Greene has already enjoyed the best season of his young career. He’s firmly established himself as one of the top pitchers in the majors and has set career highs in strikeouts while lowering his walk rate. However, it’s an adjustment to his pitching arsenal that has transformed him from a mere All-Star candidate to a true Cy Young contender.

Greene’s four-seam fastball has become one of the most dominant pitches in all of baseball, averaging 99.3 mph and delivering a +4 run value this season. He pairs that with an excellent slider, which has produced a 51.3% whiff rate in 2025. But what has truly elevated Greene’s game is the addition of a reliable third pitch—something that has helped him step into the elite ranks.

Although Greene already had a third pitch—his splitter—and a fourth (the curveball), neither had shown enough consistency in the past to be considered dependable options. That has changed. Greene’s curveball, which he added last season, had been largely ineffective, but in 2025, he’s gained more control over it, throwing it with more purpose. The splitter, too, has gained effectiveness. He has shown more comfort with it, increasing its Pitching+ by nearly 10 points compared to last year.

The real improvement came when Greene finally ironed out the splitter’s issues, overcoming a .333 batting average and 1.000 slugging percentage against the pitch early on. By midseason, the pitch had become a weapon, with expected batting averages and slugging percentages dropping significantly from earlier, solidifying Greene’s dominance across all pitches.

All of Greene’s pitches have been hit hard at times, but his luck has been in his favor. His wOBA and xwOBA were significantly better than expected, and his hard-hit rate has improved dramatically, pushing him into the league’s top tier. This combination of factors has made Greene an even more dangerous pitcher as the season has progressed.

Thanks to this expanded repertoire and newfound consistency, Greene has transformed into a true Cy Young contender, solidifying his status as one of the league’s brightest stars.