GOODYEAR, Ariz. — It never takes long for Andrew Abbott to feel like he can command a baseball. He won’t say he couldn’t roll out of bed and flip a lightswitch on across the room with the toss of a baseball, but it wouldn’t really surprise you if he could.
In his first spring start of 2025, Abbott said he felt like he was locating the ball pretty much where he wanted, even if Carlos Santana tagged him for a two-run double in the first inning of the Cleveland Guardians’ 3-0 victory Monday night at Goodyear Ballpark.
Abbott, the Reds’ presumed fifth starter when the 2025 season opens in just over a week, missed the final six weeks of 2024 with a left shoulder strain. He was kept behind his fellow starters to start the Reds’ training camp, logging his first start of the spring the day after Brady Singer made his fourth.
“I felt location was great on pretty much all the pitches — (Carlos) Santana hit a slider in the zone off of me and that’s going to happen,” Abbott said. “I think the biggest thing coming out of there is not going in expecting to be 100 percent of who I am going to be in the season being it’s my first time against hitters.”
Abbott wasn’t 100 percent Monday, allowing two runs on three hits over three innings, giving up an two-run double after a walk and single to start his spring season. But after giving up the two runs, he struck out the next two batters and allowed only another hit. At this point, though, the most important statistic was that he threw 48 pitches with 29 strikes and the results meaning as much as spring results ever matter — none.
With the first four starters in the rotation already announced — Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Nick Martinez and Singer — the Reds would first need a fifth starter on April 3 in Milwaukee.
There are 17 days until that start, and exactly enough time to start on regular rest against the Brewers. That timing would allow him to start one of the two split-squad games on the Reds’ penultimate day in Arizona.
Abbott could either pitch in a simulated game on Opening Day in Cincinnati, or more likely stay back in Arizona and pitch in a minor-league game at the team’s complex in Goodyear.
Abbott said he thinks there’s plenty of time, but it is not his decision, ultimately.
“I feel ready, I think today was a great step — I was able to go three up-downs,” said Abbott, referring to times to pitch and then go back in the dugout, signifying a full inning of work. “The next will be four and so on.”
For Abbott, getting to five up-downs and 75 pitches is where he would feel comfortable beginning the season.
“(Reds manager Terry Francona) might want a little more — he’s a little more old school,” Abbott said. “But that’s around what I’d think.”
Francona said he liked what he saw out of Abbott, but that he just needs to throw pitches and build up his workload enough to begin the season.
As the countdown to Opening Day gets to single digits, the timing could open the door for the man who came through the left-field bullpen door after Abbott, Carson Spiers.
The right-hander finished off the game for the Reds. Over five innings, Spiers allowed just one hit — a solo home run by Austin Hedges in the seventh inning. He walked two and struck out two.
“I’m not going to make the roster, I’m not going to do that,” Francona said. “But he’s pitched his ass off.”
It was just Spiers third appearance of the spring in Cactus League games. He’s thrown 10 innings and allowed three runs in that span, while also pitching on the back fields. He’s also gained another admirer in Francona, who played with Spiers’ uncle Billy with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1989 and 1990.
“He’s handled himself really well,” Francona said. “I don’t know him as well as the rest of these guys. … He comes from good stock.”
As far as Spiers making the roster?
“Everyone who is still on the roster has a chance,” Francona said.
(Photo: Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press)
