PITTSBURGH -- As Hunter Greene recovered from a right shoulder strain that landed him on the IL for more than a month, he had more on his mind than just the return date.

“I worked my butt off when I was [rehabbing], making sure that I wasn’t just healthy coming back, but I was going to be a new pitcher,” he said.

As his rookie season -- one that showcased both his immense ability and his room for growth at the Major League level -- winds to a close, Greene’s results are reaching a high note.

Making his third start since returning on Sept. 17, Greene allowed one unearned run over six innings Tuesday night in the Reds’ 4-1 loss to the Pirates at PNC Park. Over those three turns, the right-hander has allowed only three runs (two earned) on 10 hits and six walks in 17 innings while striking out 29 batters.

Greene drew 18 swings and misses with his three-pitch mix, marking the fifth time he’s produced at least 18 whiffs in a start. The only other rookie pitcher to have as many such outings this season is Spencer Strider (10), who has routinely smashed Braves franchise records this season.

But Greene is on pace to set a few of his own for Cincinnati, too. His rate of 11.73 strikeouts per nine innings is the highest by a Reds starting pitcher in franchise history (minimum 15 starts).

When the swings and misses weren’t enough, Greene got a ton of help from his defense. In his biggest test of the night, he loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth on a single, a double -- which may have knocked in a run had it not been for a stellar backhand and throw from Michael Siani, who also notched his first two MLB hits -- and a hit batter.

Greene struck out Rodolfo Castro and Jack Suwinski, then he watched as Kyle Farmer made a spectacular diving grab and throw to catch Miguel Andújar flying down the first-base line.

“There were a few times where I could have easily folded,” Greene said, “and I didn’t do that.”

When Greene punctuated the sixth inning by striking out Ji Hwan Bae, knowing it would be his final pitch of the game, he pumped his chest and let out a yell. Leaving in a 1-1 tie, he’d kept the team in the game.

“You can see that he really, really wants to do well,” Farmer said. “He’s a lot of fun to play behind, and he’s a lot of fun to watch, too.”

Greene gives a lot of the credit for his confidence to catcher Austin Romine, an 11-year MLB veteran. The two have formed a connection in not even half a season together, and Greene says it has taken a lot of the thinking away of what he needs to do.

“I think in the past, I put a lot of the pressure of that on myself,” Greene said. “To be able to have somebody back there with a lot of experience and that has done it for a while and understands the game -- the pace of the game, the hitters, the swings, all that good stuff -- he makes it a lot easier.”

But the confidence is also in part a byproduct of the gains Greene has made throughout the course of his 23 starts in his first season. On paper, the Reds’ former No. 1 prospect may not have gotten off to quite the start fans had wished for. However, in his own words, he’s been “vulnerable” and open to challenges in his quest to become the best version of himself, as shown in the consistent usage of a changeup he’s throwing with increasing conviction.

Greene still hopes to make one more start this year, but he’s on the right track for a breakout in 2023.

“[He’s] still kind of fresh off the injury,” manager David Bell said, “but really another step in the right direction to finishing off the season strong.”