When Abbott faced Syracuse on May 24, veteran Matt Reynolds was playing second base and was impressed with what he saw from Abbott, who allowed just one earned run on two hits with nine strikeouts in 6.1 innings. “His command is amazing and he’s just poised,” said Bats catcher Chuckie Robinson. “He has a great feel, he reads hitters well, he knows his stuff, where it plays and he basically calls his own game and he has a really good idea of what he’s doing,” Kelly said of Abbott.Ībbott is a four-pitch pitcher and his fastball is in the mid-90s, but batters say it plays up because it has good rise and Abbott hides the ball well.

He struck out 54 and walked 14 in 38.1 innings. At Triple A, he’s 3-0 with a 3.05 ERA in seven starts. This year he started at Double A, going 1-0 with a 1.15 ERA in his three starts, striking out 36 batters and walking just three over 15.2 innings. He struggled early in Double-A, but was still named to the Futures Team along with De La Cruz last year.

Last year he started at Dayton, dominating in his five appearances (four starts), allowing just two earned runs over 27 innings. He pitched in the Arizona Complex League and at Class A Daytona in his draft year. A reliever for his first three years in college, Abbott moved to the rotation as a senior, where he was 9-6 with a 2.87 ERA for the Cavaliers. The Reds’ second-round pick in the 2021 draft out of the University of Virginia, Abbott’s been consistently good as a pro. But the fact that he got the call shouldn’t come as much of a shock. “I believe I wouldn’t be telling you if I wasn’t serious,” Kelly responded.īecause Abbott wasn’t immediately expecting to reach the big leagues, he was surprised. You’re going to be throwing Monday in Cincy.”Ībbott, who was concentrating on facing the Worcester Red Sox for the second time this week, asked if he was serious. “You’re not throwing tomorrow in Louisville. “Slight change of plans,” Abbott recalled Kelly telling him. About an hour later, Louisville manager Pat Kelly and pitching coach Virgil Vazquez called for his attention. Like Abbott, De La Cruz and Encarnacion-Strand, Hopkins was having a fantastic year for the Bats. Less than 48 hours later, Abbott heard that his roommate in Louisville, outfielder TJ Hopkins, was getting called up.

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