Opening Day in Cincinnati is unlike anywhere else. There’s a parade. It’s a big party. And outside of extenuating circumstances, the Cincinnati Reds always open up the season at home. A week ago there are perhaps a question as to who would be the Reds Opening Day starter, but with Hunter Greene dealing with something in his right elbow (we will likely learn something more on Monday or Tuesday), the decision probably got a lot easier and today the club announced that 2025 All-Star Andrew Abbott would be getting the nod against the Boston Red Sox on March 26th to open up the year.
Abbott, the Reds 2nd round draft pick in 2021 got to the big leagues in the summer of 2023 and he’s made 75 starts since then. After having an ERA under 4.00 in his first two seasons the left-handed pitcher broke out in 2025. He made 29 starts and went 10-7 while throwing 166.1 innings with 43 walks and 149 strikeouts. His ERA was nearly a run lower than his career ERA was entering the season as he finished the year with a 2.87 mark (159 ERA+, which is a pitchers ERA after being adjusted for the parks he pitched in where anything above 100 is above-average).
Andrew Abbott made his first All-Star game thanks to that performance. He also finished 8th in the Cy Young Award voting. His 5.6 WAR (Baseball Reference version) led the Reds and was 3rd in the National League among pitchers, trailing just Cristopher Sanchez of the Philadelphia Phillies and Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
This will be the first Opening Day start for Andrew Abbott. This makes for over a decade since the Cincinnati Reds have had a pitcher start Opening Day in back-to-back years. The last time that happened was in 2014 and 2015 when Johnny Cueto did so. Hunter Greene and Luis Castillo both made two Opening Day starts since then but they were not in consecutive years.
Imo, he deserves it no matter Greenes status. Maybe he got the memo before anyone else did.
The Greene’s health issues are really a problem every year… my goodness…
May we have an idea of how the Reds rotation will go? Considering Rhett Lowder is taking the 5th spot at this moment, so I think the order would be Abbott, Singer, Lodolo, Burns, Lowder if everyone stays healthy…
Anybody asked me, I’d put Mad Max on the mound as an opener, let him soften up that Boston batting order, and thing bring in the horses to mow them down. After that, option Maxwell back to the minors and tell him to fix his anger issues.
Somewhat radical but interesting
Great choice for a cerebral, genuine young man. Love his interviews. He’s frank and introspective, never makes an excuse after a bad outing. One of my favorite Reds
Pretty good dude, despite being a UVa grad. Go Blue Devils.
Good choice. Abbott is one of my favorite Reds. Greene is my pick, if he were healthy. Go Reds!