Although Hunter Greene looked impressive on Opening Day, Tito has raised the standard even further.
The Cincinnati Reds lost 6-4 to the San Francisco Giants on Opening Day of the 2025 season, which was a poor start to the season. Both promise and disappointment were there in the match, as Terry Francona, the new Reds manager, used Ian Gilbaut to end the game in the ninth minute.
After that, a blown save sealed the Reds’ doom. Even while the loss hurts, there were some positive aspects, most notably Hunter Greene’s impressive start, which gave Francona hope for the future.
Greene took the mound with electric stuff as expected, showcasing the dominance Reds fans have long hoped would become a hallmark of his game. Over five innings, he allowed three hits and two earned runs while striking out eight, and issuing just one walk. His 84-pitch performance was a mix of overpowering fastballs and sharp secondary pitches, keeping the Giants largely in check.
Reds manager Terry Francona has high expectations for Hunter Greene
The biggest challenge for Greene came in the fourth inning, when he labored through a grueling 28-pitch stretch. The key moment came against Heliot Ramos, who battled through a long at-bat before launching a two-run homer — Greene’s only real blemish of the night.
After the game, Francona admitted he had hoped to see Greene push deeper into the game. The original plan was for six innings, possibly seven, but given it was just the first start of the season, he opted for a more cautious approach, and pulled Greene after the fifth inning. However, the message was clear: the sixth inning will be the expectation, and the Reds’ rotation will be counted on to eat innings throughout the season.
A change in mentality is indicated by Francona’s traditional approach to opening pitching. The days of mostly depending on the bullpen are over; starters must be effective, have good pitch command, and produce high-caliber starts every time.
This will be a defining test for Greene in 2025, since he is a pitcher with explosive stuff and a history of command problems. He averaged just under six innings per start the previous season, but he and the rest of the rotation must improve if the Reds are to be a serious postseason contender.
A real “set it and forget it” ace, someone who can be relied upon to take the mound and offer steadiness every fifth day, is what the Reds have been looking for for years. Greene needs to become that man if Francona’s ambition is to succeed. Although he showed signs of being an ace last season, he will have the chance to establish himself as the rotation’s mainstay in 2025. Is he capable of going one step further and becoming a dependable workhorse?
For Cincinnati to emerge as a serious threat, their rotation must rise to the occasion. Greene’s Opening Day start was an encouraging sign, but the real test will continue throughout the season.
