Hunter Greene's pitches are so nasty, it's making the Reds' ace vomit on the mound.
The 25-year-old is having a career year on the mound, posting a sub-3.00 ERA for the first time since debuting in 2022. He's also earned his first All-Star nod as he seems to have figured things out just three years into his MLB career.
Greene consistently strikes out batters in Cincinnati — but he's also vomited multiple times on the mound this season. It's already an uncommon thing for any pitcher, but it's happened to Green three times in one season.
His most recent episode came Tuesday in the fifth inning against the Cardinals. Greene stayed in the game after a brief checkup from the umpires.
Hunter Greene 🤮 pic.twitter.com/mXmRoRJZ5m
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 13, 2024
Why does Greene keep vomiting on the mound? The Sporting News answers that question and more below.
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Why does Hunter Greene keep vomiting?
There isn't an official cause for Greene vomiting on the mound three times this year, but he believes it may have to do with over hydrating.
"Nobody really knows [what caused it] but it is a lot of liquid built up in my system," Greene said after the second instance. "The only way it seems to come out is by vomiting. It just sits on my chest. No one wants to go out and get sick."
He gave a similar quote to Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer, saying: "I had a bunch of water in my system. I definitely hydrated too much. It was all water when I threw it up."
We have a puke game in Cincinnati pic.twitter.com/9goiGEQxGf
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) June 25, 2024
The first two instances came in back-to-back starts against the Pirates on June 19 and June 25. The first-time All-Star nearly went two months without another episode before vomiting against the Cardinals on Aug. 13.
He didn't offer an explanation for the third time, but manager David Bell praised the 25-year-old for battling through.
"We're not exactly sure what's happening," Bell said. "I think he feels better after it happens. I think a lot of us feel like throwing up during the game sometimes, and that doesn't come out, so maybe he just feels better after that."
David Bell talks about Hunter Greene's 8 strikeout outing as the @Reds beat the Cardinals 4-1. #ATOBTTR pic.twitter.com/cycxF1QPY2
— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) August 14, 2024
Greene allowed one run and struck out eight in seven innings against the Cardinals to improve to 9-4 on the season.