The Reds' No. 1 prospect is making a good case to be in the Major Leagues for Opening Day. In his second outing of the spring -- and his first start -- right-hander Hunter Greene threw two scoreless innings in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Giants at Scottsdal
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“I felt good. I felt like my pitches were coming out nice,” Greene said. “It’s still spring, so I am working on pitches here and there. I felt great about my changeup. I feel like guys were a little bit off-balance, and I kept them honest as well today.”
As for his changeup, Greene used it to start a sequence against two hitters, something he did not do at all last season in the Minors.
“I’ve been working on that a lot in the offseason,” Greene said. “I take a lot of pride in my changeup now, really more than any other pitch. The fastball is great, the slider is cool, but the changeup is where my mind is at, and I’m really happy with that.”
“Pitching coach Derek Johnson says all the time I’m going to be out of the stretch more than the windup. Getting comfortable with that,” Greene said. “Spring Training is all about being comfortable and working on all of your stuff when it doesn’t really matter. I’m sure these guys want to see me working out of the stretch, too, and that I’m the same guy I am when out of the windup.”
“There are still things I am working on, and I’m talking to D.J. all the time. He’s in my ear, I’m in his ear. Not getting too hyped up, I’d like to think I stay right in the middle,” Greene said. “That’s what makes the best players, guys that stay on that middle line. I think I’m doing well. I have a lot of confidence in myself. We still have a few more games to go.”