Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Griffin Jax is examined by a trainer after an injury during the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

NEW YORK — Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene took another step in his rehab from elbow surgery Tuesday afternoon, when he threw 15 to 20 pitches during a side session at the club’s spring training facility in Arizona.

Greene, who was the Reds’ Opening Day starter in 2023 and 2025, had bone chips removed on March 11. Cincinnati expected him to be sidelined 14 to 16 weeks.

Manager Terry Francona said Greene and left-handed pitcher Brandon Williamson, who is on the 60-day injured list due to shoulder fatigue, will join the Reds for their six-game homestand slated to begin Friday before returning to Arizona to continue their rehab.

Right-handed starter Rhett Lowder, who hasn’t pitched since May 7 due to pain in his shoulder, threw long toss Tuesday and is scheduled to throw to hitters today.

Scary moment

BALTIMORE — Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Griffin Jax left his start against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night a few batters after being hit in the back by a line drive in the second inning.

With a runner on first base after a fielding error by Jax and the Rays leading 1-0, Leody Tavares hit a liner that struck the pitcher on what appeared to be the left side of his back. Jax immediately went down near the mound while the ball bounced to third baseman Junior Caminero.

Meanwhile, Jax grabbed at his back while on the ground as a trainer rushed to check on him. After a few moments, Jax was helped back to his feet and stayed in the game.

After giving up a single to Jeremiah Jackson to load the bases, Jax struck out Colton Cowser for the first out. He got out of the winning but Garrett Cleavinger replaced him to start the third inning. There was no immediate word on the injury.

Horner dies at 68

ATLANTA — Bob Horner, the power-hitting third baseman who was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 1978 and hit a home run in his debut with the Atlanta Braves after skipping the minor leagues, has died. He was 68.

The Braves say they were informed of Horner’s death in Texas by his wife, Chris. Horner hit 218 homers in his 10-year career, including nine seasons with the Braves. He joined Dale Murphy to form the heart of the Braves’ lineup through much of the 1980s. In his debut, Horner hit a homer off Bert Blyleven of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Help for the Mets

NEW YORK — Juan Soto, A.J. Minter and Jared Young returned to the New York Mets on Tuesday, when the last-place club’s depth was challenged again by the loss of outfielder Tyrone Taylor to the 10-day injured list due to a right hip flexor strain.

Soto, who missed two games due to an illness, was in the lineup as the designated hitter, batting third, in the middle game of a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds.

Young was batting fifth and playing first base in his first action since April 12, when he tore his left meniscus. Minter hasn’t pitched since April 26, 2025, due to a torn left lat. The left-hander also battled a sore left hip earlier this month.

Currently out injured are Francisco Alvarez, Francisco Lindor, Jorge Polanco, Luis Robert Jr., Clay Holmes and Kodai Senga.