MLB debut ✅ Hometown start ✅ Reds home debut? Greene's ready

Reds rookie sensation Hunter Greene dazzled in his Major League debut, but that was in Atlanta. The pitcher’s second start -- vs. the Dodgers -- was electric, but that was in his hometown of Los Angeles.

Finally, it’s time for Reds fans to see Greene pitch with his triple-digit velocity in person. On Friday, when Cincinnati opens a three-game series vs. the rival Cardinals, the right-hander will take the mound for the first time at Great American Ball Park.

The game will be broadcast exclusively for free on Apple TV+ as part of its Friday Night Baseball package.

“I’m hoping there’s a lot of people there. I don’t know if there will be,” Greene said. “I think it will be a lot of fun. I have a lot of confidence in this team. It would be great to get that support from the fans consistently. To be able to stick with us and feel that support would be great. I’m looking forward to it.”

Over 10 1/3 innings in two starts, Greene is 1-1 with a 4.35 ERA. The 22-year-old has allowed nine hits -- including three home runs -- with two walks and 13 strikeouts.

For fans unable to attend the game in person, an Internet connection but no subscription is needed to watch Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+. To access Apple TV+, download and launch the Apple TV app and select the game directly from there. Or from the MLB.TV app, tap on Apple TV+ game to be redirected to the Apple TV app (where available).

For more information about how to access "Friday Night Baseball" on Apple TV+, visit the Apple Knowledge Base.

Greene’s latest start comes at a tough stretch for the Reds. They've lost nine games in a row, with its last win coming on April 10 vs. the Braves. That was Greene’s big league debut, when he worked five innings and struck out seven for a 6-3 victory.

In his second start, a 5-2 loss to the Dodgers on Saturday, Greene gave up three runs (two earned) with five hits, no walks and six strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. He took a shutout into the sixth inning that was broken up when Trea Turner hit a two-run homer to break a scoreless tie.

Fighting the emotions of pitching at the ballpark he grew up near, Greene smashed a single-game record by registering 39 pitches at 100 mph or more. Mets ace Jacob deGrom had the previous record in the tracking era (since 2008) with 33 triple-digit velocity pitches on June 5, 2021.

“I just want to keep my consistency and my routine,” said Greene, who is ranked as the Reds’ No. 1 prospect and No. 22 overall by MLB Pipeline. “I’ve done a really good job of having a lot of confidence and making [hitters] prove they can hit my fastball and other pitches. Just sticking with that confidence goes a long way. I think that sets me up well from the last couple of games.”

Because of the schedule, the Reds and Greene have barely been in Cincinnati this season -- with only two home games vs. the Guardians among their first 13. Greene’s only other experience in Cincinnati came after the 2017 No. 2 overall Draft pick visited the ballpark upon signing his contract.

“I just now got my place. I’m still trying to get settled in,” Greene said.

Greene is pleased with how his brief Major League career began, but he understands there’s plenty of season left.

“You can’t get too high. You can’t get too low. You stay right in the middle," Greene said. “It’s great that the first two starts have been really good. I still have another 31 starts to make. Still a lot of work to be done.”