Andrew Abbott impresses in Reds' spring debut

Andrew Abbott made his spring debut for the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night in Arizona. He pitched three innings against the Cleveland Guardians, where he allowed two runs on three hits. Despite giving up a two-run double to Carlos Santana in the first inning, Abbott felt good about his performance. Abbott, who missed the end of the previous season due to a left shoulder strain, is expected to be the Reds' fifth starter. He focused on locating his pitches well, even acknowledging that he might not be at his best yet. “I think the biggest thing coming out of there is not going in expecting to be 100 percent,” he said. With the Reds' Opening Day just over a week away, Abbott needs more time to build up his pitch count. He threw 48 pitches during the game, with 29 being strikes. He feels confident about being ready for the season, noting that he aims to reach around 75 pitches before starting the year. Reds manager Terry Francona was pleased with Abbott's performance but emphasized the need for him to increase his workload. Meanwhile, Carson Spiers, who pitched after Abbott, also had a strong outing, allowing just one hit over five innings. Francona praised Spiers, calling him a hard worker, although he noted that making the roster is a long shot for him. As the Reds prepare for their season opener against the Milwaukee Brewers, the team is keeping its options open, and every player on the roster has a chance to make an impact.