Cincinnati Reds staff ace Hunter Greene was forced from Monday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays after taking a comebacker off his shin. The Reds were leading 1-0 against the MLB leaders at the time of Greene's departure.The Reds' top starter was cruising through the early innings of Cincinnati's series opener against the Rays, scattering three hits with one strikeout.Talkin’ Baseball@TalkinBaseball_Hunter Greene exited his start for the Reds after three innings after taking a ball off the shin. He tried to stay in the game but the Reds puled him after the inning1439Hunter Greene exited his start for the Reds after three innings after taking a ball off the shin. He tried to stay in the game but the Reds puled him after the inning https://t.co/gXvCzgIx02Hunter Greene was tagged on a one-hop comebacker with a 97-mph exit velocity off the bat of Rays star Yandy Diaz with one runner on in the top of the third inning. The ball tagged Greene hard in the shin, but he was able to recover and throw Diaz out at first base.Cincinnati Reds@Reds#Reds RHP Hunter Greene left tonight's game with a right tibia contusion. X-rays were negative.39456#Reds RHP Hunter Greene left tonight's game with a right tibia contusion. X-rays were negative.After being examined by the Cincinnati Reds training staff and manager David Bell, Greene remained in the game for the final two outs of the frame. He stranded a runner at third base on a strikeout and pop-up.The team later announced that Greene had a right tibia contusion.Robert Simer@rsimer2@TalkinBaseball_ Too bad, he was dealing and it’s a good game.@TalkinBaseball_ Too bad, he was dealing and it’s a good game.Kev Mahserejian@RotoSurgeonHunter Greene’s injury was a liner off the shin (ouch). Hope it’s just a bruise twitter.com/underdog__mlb/…Underdog MLB@Underdog__MLBStatus alert: Hunter Greene (leg) leaves game Monday.116Status alert: Hunter Greene (leg) leaves game Monday.Hunter Greene’s injury was a liner off the shin (ouch). Hope it’s just a bruise twitter.com/underdog__mlb/… https://t.co/VkxDnh6UB0Max Alfonso@maxalfonso10@TalkinBaseball_ he was dealing too@TalkinBaseball_ he was dealing tooHowever, Greene was replaced on the mound by reliever Buck Farmer to pitch the fourth. Farmer shakily held the lead, giving up two walks and a hit in 1 1/3 innings.Greene allowed three hits over three scoreless innings with no walks and one strikeout while throwing 47 pitches, 31 of which were strikes.Jackson Crowe@JCrowe91881@ATBBTTR He can never catch a break@ATBBTTR He can never catch a break🍞Toasty Sams🐕⚾️🏀@toastsams13This sucks twitter.com/Underdog__MLB/…Underdog MLB@Underdog__MLBStatus alert: Hunter Greene (leg) leaves game Monday.16Status alert: Hunter Greene (leg) leaves game Monday.This sucks twitter.com/Underdog__MLB/…Jackson Crowe@JCrowe91881@ATBBTTR I feel so bad for him man@ATBBTTR I feel so bad for him manGreene's early departure marked the third time in four games that the Cincinnati Reds were forced to tax the bullpen for a disproportionate number of innings.Against the Philadelphia Phillies over the weekend, neither Connor Overton nor Luis Cessa made it through the fourth inning in their starts. Cessa allowed 11 runs on 14 hits with no strikeouts in just three innings on Sunday.jack jba@slattmanjbawe can’t have shit man twitter.com/underdog__mlb/…Underdog MLB@Underdog__MLBStatus alert: Hunter Greene (leg) leaves game Monday.296Status alert: Hunter Greene (leg) leaves game Monday.we can’t have shit man twitter.com/underdog__mlb/…Phil R.@PSR1973Welp, hopefully he doesn’t land on the IL twitter.com/nightengalejr/…Bobby Nightengale@nightengalejrHunter Greene is out of the game after three innings. Buck Farmer enters from the bullpen.34Hunter Greene is out of the game after three innings. Buck Farmer enters from the bullpen.Welp, hopefully he doesn’t land on the IL twitter.com/nightengalejr/…Evan@EvanW_FSYet another pitcher injury on the early season, hopefully this one isn’t serious. #Reds twitter.com/talkinbaseball…Talkin’ Baseball@TalkinBaseball_Hunter Greene exited his start for the Reds after three innings after taking a ball off the shin. He tried to stay in the game but the Reds puled him after the inning15010Hunter Greene exited his start for the Reds after three innings after taking a ball off the shin. He tried to stay in the game but the Reds puled him after the inning https://t.co/gXvCzgIx02Yet another pitcher injury on the early season, hopefully this one isn’t serious. #Reds twitter.com/talkinbaseball…While the move may have been more precautionary than anything, Cincinnati Reds fans will hold their collective breath over the status of Hunter Greene. The Reds' ace at just 23 years of age, was scheduled to face 43-year-old Pittsburgh Pirates starter Rich Hill on Saturday. Time will tell whether Greene is able to make that start.Talkin’ Baseball@TalkinBaseball_It's currently lining up so that 23-year-old Hunter Greene will face 43-year-old Rich Hill on SaturdayGreene was five years old when Hill made his MLB debut372382It's currently lining up so that 23-year-old Hunter Greene will face 43-year-old Rich Hill on SaturdayGreene was five years old when Hill made his MLB debut https://t.co/MU3SfhyN16Hunter Greene one of the Cincinnati Reds' few gemsHunter Greene of the Cincinnati Reds pitches during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies.Hunter Greene was the second pick of the 2017 draft. The 23-year-old Los Angeles native was taken by the Reds directly out of Notre Dame High School.He debuted in the big leagues year and showed great promise despite a 5-13 record and 4.44 ERA while striking out 164 batters in 125 2/3 innings.