This Reds pitcher deserves more credit.
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Andrew Abbott quietly had one of the better seasons in baseball last year. Yet, he is rarely discussed among the best pitchers in the sport. Abbott is more than a one-hit wonder as well, as he's enjoyed multiple respectable seasons in MLB.
The Reds' starter is quickly becoming one of the most underrated players in the game.
Andrew Abbott's Career, Pitching Approach
Abbott made his big league debut in 2023. Across 21 starts, he turned in a 3.87 ERA. In 2024, Abbott pitched to a 3.72 ERA across 25 outings. It had become clear that Abbott was the real deal, but even the Reds likely were not expecting what occurred in 2025.
Abbott finished eighth in National League Cy Young voting after finishing the '25 campaign with a 2.87 ERA and 149 strikeouts in 29 starts. He threw one shutout and recorded 166.1 innings of work. Abbott also earned his first All-Star selection.
The southpaw does not strike out many hitters. He finished in the 44th percentile in strikeouts last season. However, he does a terrific job limiting hard contact and walks. Abbott was in the 79th percentile in walk percentage and 93rd percentile in hard-hit percentage in 2025.
His four-seam fastball is effective despite it being in the 26th percentile for fastball velocity. Both Abbott's pitching run value and fastball run value were in the 90th percentile a season ago.
In addition to his four-seam fastball, Abbott throws a changeup, curveball, sweeper and cutter. While his other pitches help to keep batters off balance, Abbott threw his fastball almost half of the time at a 47.8 percent rate in 2025.
Abbott's Impact on Reds' Starting Rotation
Hunter Greene is the Reds ace. Brady Singer is an established veteran. Nick Lodolo features potential. However, Abbott is the X-factor.
He could be the best No. 2 in the sport if he has another big year in 2026. The Reds' starting pitching is their strength. The ball club will need the offense to step up and score some runs, but Cincinnati's pitching is what will determine their 2026 postseason outlook.
With Andrew Abbott in the rotation, it would not be surprising to see Cincinnati make a playoff run. Perhaps Abbott will begin receiving the attention he deserves with another strong performance in 2026.