Landing a Sports Illustrated cover as a teenager and being selected second overall in the MLB Draft could understandably make a rising star feel and act like just that -- a star. But Hunter Greene began using his platform at an early age to a truly special end: helping others.
Lending a hand through charitable endeavors was instilled in Hunter at a young age. He started community service work when he was only 7 years old, with his parents' introducing him to opportunities in his Stevenson Ranch community, such as book drives, toy drives and other humanitarian efforts. He often incorporated his team in these activities to get his friends involved and spend time with them, something which remains important to Hunter today.
As his platform grew during his ascent to the big leagues, the only thing that changed about Hunter was his resources and outreach, which has allowed him to expand his impact on others.
Since joining the Reds organization at the age of 18, Hunter has participated in a number of community service initiatives and spearheaded events of his own. In 2018, a year after being drafted, he started a free baseball camp that he held back home in California. In 2020, he brought the third annual edition of this camp to Cincinnati.
In addition to premium baseball and softball instruction, each Hunter Greene Baseball Camp includes a mandatory educational component to teach children about leadership, history and other important topics that attendees must participate in to access the baseball and softball portion of the event. For the Cincinnati camp, the kids visited the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center near Great American Ball Park, where they enjoyed an introductory talk, immersive tour and dinner. The goal of the non-athletic part of each camp is to help inspire young boys and girls to be the best version of themselves.
The baseball and softball side of the camp took place at the P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy, a facility that Hunter has frequented during his Reds career. The original location is in Compton, California, where Hunter trained growing up. He continues to participate in events there when he goes home in the offseason in an effort to motivate the next generation of the game.
Last season, the Reds’ 2022 Lou Gehrig Award nominee held a Nike baseball cleats distribution event before a game at Great American Ball Park for more than 100 student-athletes from the Reds RBI and Jr. RBI programs. Hunter held another cleats distribution in Southern California, handing out 2,000 pairs of free cleats to youth ages 7-17, and went to Dubai in 2021 to give away cleats. Traveling to different locations around the world and providing elite gear for aspiring ballplayers is something he plans each offseason.
This year, on Jackie Robinson Day, the pitcher surprised a group of baseball and softball students at Cincinnati Public School’s Robert A. Taft Information Technology High School. Before fielding questions, posing for photos and signing autographs, Hunter spoke to the teenagers about Robinson’s legacy and the personal impact the baseball legend has had on his life. In 2023, Hunter hosted a group of upcoming top athletes participating in the DREAM Series at his Spring Training home in Arizona, gifting them with cleats and sharing advice on his experience attending the camp and ultimately being drafted by the Reds.
At 23 years old, Hunter continues to grow into a star on the field and remains a bigger star away from the ballpark with his selflessness and desire to inspire youth and improve the lives of others.