Former UVA ace Andrew Abbott makes Major League debut with Reds tonight

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Posted on Monday, Jun. 5, 2023, 12:00 am

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By Jerry Ratcliffe

Photo: MLB Trade Rumors

Former Virginia star pitcher Andrew Abbott will make his Major League Baseball debut tonight when the lefthander takes the mound for the Cincinnati Reds against the Milwaukee Brewers (7:10 p.m. ET).

A second-round pick by the Reds in the 2021 draft, the South Boston (Va.) native has pitched 39 games in the minor leagues and is Cincinnati’s top pitching prospect. He was moved up from Louisville, where he was 3-0 in seven starts, owned a 3.05 ERA, struck out 54 and walked 14. Prior to Louisville, Abbott was 1-0 in three starts with Chattanooga, with a 1.15 ERA, 36 strikeouts and only three walks.

“Well, it was a dream when I was a kid and not many dreams like this come true, so it’s a great feeling,” Abbott said about getting called up to The Show. “Just exciting. I think everybody works hard in different areas, but just from what the journey I’ve been on from reliever to starter, to being up here, never giving up on myself.”

Abbott thought he would get drafted after his junior season, which was during the pandemic in 2020, but teams bypassed him.

“Going back to school to try to prove to teams they should have drafted me a year before kind of worked out, as we can see. I’m just grateful for everybody along the way,” Abbott said. “The Reds, the front office, the pitching people that I’ve worked with, everybody that’s helped me, I’m just forever grateful and will continue to work hard for them.”

Once drafted, he was placed in the High-A Midwest League to start his first full season in 2022, spending time in Dayton, where it was clear he was ready to move up to face a higher level of hitters.

His fastball is mostly in the low 90s, but has deception in his delivery along with cutting action in the pitch, which has allowed him to accumulate lots of strikeouts. He has a nice curve and a mean slider. Coaches have encouraged him to throw more changeups because of his variety of pitches.

Abbott is known for a high IQ and his competitive nature.