Hunter Greene landed on the cover of Sports Illustrated at 17.
The magazine wondered aloud whether he was "baseball's LeBron or the new Babe?" What were people wondering about you when you were a teenager?
Eight years later, Greene hasn't yet established himself as a superstar. But damn if he didn't look like one Monday night. The 25-year-old threw the best game of his career, coming within one out of a complete game shutout.
He didn't reach a three-ball count until two outs in the ninth inning. He navigated five different innings in 10 pitches or less. He still reached triple digits on his fastball in the ninth.
It's one thing to tip your cap to the opponent. It's another to appreciate someone who lived up to impossible hype, even if only for one night.
Up next: Lucky for the Giants, they won’t have to face Hunter Greene for the rest of the season. It’ll be Landon Roupp against Nick Lodolo at 6:45 pm. Lodolo allowed two runs across six innings against the Giants 10 days ago.