The Getty folder doesn’t contain any pictures of Frankie Montas pitching in a Cincinnati Reds uniform yet, as he just recently signed with the team. Although he has already made a couple of starts for the Reds during Cactus League play, it seems there are no images of his time on the mound during those 4.2 innings.
Despite this, Reds manager David Bell announced on Sunday that Montas will be the starting pitcher for the Reds on Opening Day against the Washington Nationals. This news was relayed by MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince and others.
On the other hand, there are numerous images in the Getty folder of Hunter Greene pitching while wearing the Reds uniform. As the former 2nd overall draft pick, Greene has been with the franchise since 2017 and has made 46 starts for the big league club over the past two years. His recent six-year, $53 million extension solidifies his status as the player to whom the Reds have committed the most in terms of both length and dollar amount.
Interestingly, Greene was named the Opening Day starter for the Reds last spring training, based on his performance in the previous season where he showcased his talent with 125.2 innings pitched and a 98 ERA+. Despite the Reds significantly reducing their pitching staff in 2022, Greene emerged as the frontrunner for the pitching staff. However, this year, the decision to start Montas instead of Greene came as somewhat of a surprise to many. Although Montas had a remarkable performance before joining the Reds and endured injuries during his tenure with the Yankees, he now appears to be in excellent form.
Both Montas and Greene were expected to start the first two games of the 2024 season for the Reds, and now the order has been finalized. Greene, who is developing new pitches, might have the opportunity to refine his skills further with some extra practice time before his first major league start.
While the honor of pitching on Opening Day in Cincinnati is significant, there was a reaction from many that suggested Greene had lost this honor, despite not completely seizing the opportunity in the past. Montas will now take on this prestigious role, and perhaps his success this season will strengthen his connection to the city of Cincinnati and the Reds organization.
Congratulations to Frankie Montas, and expectations are high for Hunter Greene’s performance in the second game of the season.