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Former Wahoo Andrew Abbott Continues Blazing Start to MLB Career

Abbott has made just five starts for the Cincinnati Reds, but his success makes him seem far more experienced

Kathleen Boyce

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Andrew Abbott has made just five starts for the Cincinnati Reds, but his remarkable success in those five games makes him seem like one of the more experienced pitchers in Major League Baseball. 

After becoming the first pitcher since 1893 to debut with three scoreless starts of five innings or more, the former Cavalier pitcher put the league on notice. Since then, Abbott has come back down to Earth slightly, and now holds an earned run average of 1.21 in 29.2 innings pitched rather than the astonishing 0.00 ERA from his first three games. He gave up the first earned run of his career on a leadoff home run against the Rockies on June 21st, and then the Rockies tagged him for two more solo home runs as he gave up three runs in six innings of work. 

The fact that Abbott’s worst performance of the season thus far is still the definition of a quality start - six innings while giving up three or fewer earned runs - is incredible. A stat that deserves its own mention is Abbott striking out ten hitters in the contest. Ten strikeouts in a game is an elusive mark, and one that rookies rarely achieve.

On Tuesday night against the Orioles, Abbott continued his blazing start to his MLB career, giving up one run on two hits in six innings of work, and once again kept his team in the game and left holding a 2-1 lead. He added eight more strikeouts, putting his total to an impressive 30 in 29.2 innings.

The lefty has been fooling the best hitters in the game, and so far opponents are only batting .157 against him.

While he has struggled at times with command, issuing four walks in his debut and three walks twice (including in his most recent start), his electric stuff has gotten him out of jams. Of the 16 hits he has given up so far, four have been extra base hits, and all three home runs have caused minimal damage in a game that Abbott earned the win.

Putting his team in great positions to win has paid off with a 4-0 record so far. Andrew Abbott has immediately made his presence known for the surging Cincinnati Reds, even though he’s been in the majors for less than a month. If he continues to pitch like this, it will be difficult for manager David Bell to take him out of the rotation. 

The Reds just might have a new ace in former Virginia pitcher Andrew Abbott. 

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Kathleen Boyce
KATHLEEN BOYCE

Kathleen Boyce is a contributing author for Cavaliers Now, covering primarily UVA volleyball, women's basketball, and softball. Kathleen is currently a fourth-year student at the University of Virginia.

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