If nothing else, Hunter Greene can always say he gave it a shot.

Greene, chosen second overall by the Cincinnati Reds in this year's MLB draft, excelled as a pitcher and shortstop in high school and had aspirations of playing both positions in the majors. But after experiencing both sides of the game as a professional during his now-completed first minor-league season, the 18-year-old has decided to discard his bat and focus solely on developing as a pitcher.

"There's a different type of confidence when I'm at the mound, different than at the plate or shortstop," Greene told the Cincinnati Enquirer's C. Trent Rosecrans in an interview last week. "Getting on the mound is a lot easier for me. I think getting on the mound is a lot more natural, too."

Greene's decision will surely please members of the Reds' front office. Shortly after they officially inked him to his rookie contract, general manager Dick Williams announced that they planned to develop Greene as a pitcher, while still allowing him to hit between starts.

Ultimately, Greene's only appearances as a position player in the Reds' organization came as a designated hitter. Williams had noted in July that it would have been "asking a little too much" of the youngster to play shortstop and pitch during his first go-around in the minors.

Greene spent his first season as a pro with the Billings Mustangs in the Rookie-level Pioneer League. Owing to his late signing date, he only made three starts for Billings, crafting a 12.46 ERA while striking out six over just 4 1/3 innings. In seven games as a DH he hit .233 (7-for-30) with a .600 OPS, two doubles, and zero home runs.