Highly-touted Cincinnati Reds prospect Hunter Greene struck out eight batters in his Midwest League debut Monday. (Photo courtesy of the Dayton Dragons)

Highly-touted Reds prospect Hunter Greene made his much-anticipated Midwest League debut for the Dayton Dragons on Monday, giving the sold-out crowd at Fifth Third Field a short but electric look at what the right-handed fireballer could be doing for Cincinnati a few years from now.

As expected, Greene’s outing was limited to only a few innings because the Reds have the 18-year-old prospect on a strict pitch count this year, his first full season as a pro ballplayer. In his three-inning start Monday, Greene struck out eight batters and walked none, but gave up two earned runs on five hits and a wild pitch. According to reports, his fastball was consistently in the 96-100 mph range, he hit 100 mph with his first three pitches of the game, and struck out three in a row to strand two runners in scoring position in his final frame. (You can read more about Greene’s outing here and here.)

In the end, the Dragons beat the Captains 3-2, which was Lake County’s first loss this season. RHP Austin Orewiler, who relieved Greene, earned the win by pitching four scoreless innings in which he scattered two walks and a hit. Lake County’s Austen Wade hit a two-run double off Greene.

You can read what else happened around the rest of the Midwest League on Monday — including a 12-K pitching performance — in an expanded version of this post on my Patreon site. You can access it and more by supporting my MWL coverage with a minimal monthly pledge of $1. Click here for details.