Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Andrew Abbott. Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott building on strong rookie season

By Michael Carpenter | Last updated Jul 9, 2024 8:25 AM ET

The Cincinnati Reds have not been known for their pitching success over the past few seasons, even after using multiple recent top draft picks on rotation help.

With pitchers Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo struggling to stay healthy and the rest of the rotation usually filled with question marks or journeymen, they needed to find consistent innings somewhere.

And consistent innings they found.

Making his MLB debut last year, Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott went 8-6 with a 3.87 ERA while striking out 120 batters in 109.1 innings pitched. He has taken the next step in 2024.

He's 9-6 with a 3.06 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 103 innings pitched, and Abbott has been one of the best pitchers in baseball over his last seven starts.

Going 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA and 36 strikeouts during the seven-game stretch, the young pitcher has featured his fastball more this season and the results have been positive.

The 25-year-old left-hander is coming off perhaps his best out of the season, producing seven shutout innings while allowing only three hits and striking out eight Rockies hitters on Monday night.

His full arsenal was on display, proving how tough he is to hit when he can control his fastball.

Andrew Abbott, 95mph Fastball and 84mph Sweeper, Overlay pic.twitter.com/wUxUJT8vQu
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 8, 2024

The fastball has helped him take command more during at-bats and allowed him to use his nasty sweeper to get strikeouts.

While he doesn't possess the natural stuff that Greene and Lodolo have, Abbott has already shown one of the major traits the team needs: availability.

With career highs in innings pitched at 125.2 and 103.1 respectively, Greene and Lodolo have not been able to shoulder the workhorse load they were drafted to provide.

A second-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, Abbott made a quick ascension to the big leagues after spending only one full season in the minors in 2022.

With a talented but streaky offense, the Reds need all the help they can get on the mound and as the season goes on. Abbott is continuing to lock his name into the future plan for the franchise.

Michael Carpenter

Michael is a California kid, living in Arizona as a graduate of The Cronkite School of Journalism, Forks Up. He believes Yadier Molina will be in the Hall, and Dez caught it. Michael njoys spending his free time with his amazing wife and two beautiful daughters or playing video games. You can find him on Twitter @_MCSports.

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