The Cincinnati Reds made a big decision ahead of Opening Day.
The Cincinnati Reds have made an important rotation decision ahead of the 2026 season after an injury to their ace forced the club to adjust its pitching plans.
With star right‑hander Hunter Greene currently dealing with right‑elbow stiffness, the Reds have turned to another key arm in their rotation to take the ball for one of the biggest games of the year. Greene was recently shut down from throwing and scheduled to undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the issue.
Early speculation suggested the possibility of bone spurs, but Greene has since indicated that his ulnar collateral ligament remains intact. That update has created hope that the injury will not require major surgery, though the team is still waiting for more clarity on his recovery timeline.
In the meantime, Cincinnati has made its decision for the first game of the season.
“Taking the mound on Opening Day... For your Cincinnati Reds... Number 41... Andrew Abbott!” the Reds announced on X.
The assignment goes to left‑hander Andrew Abbott, who emerged as one of the team’s most reliable starters during the 2025 season. With Greene unavailable, Abbott was widely viewed as the logical choice to take on the Opening Day role.
Abbott enjoyed a breakout campaign last year that firmly established him as one of the top pitchers in Cincinnati’s rotation. Across 29 starts, he posted a 10‑7 record with a 2.87 ERA while striking out 149 hitters. His performance earned him his first career All‑Star selection and helped him finish eighth in National League Cy Young Award voting.
Those results made Abbott arguably the Reds second‑best pitcher behind Greene and a key figure in the club’s long‑term pitching plans.
However, his spring training performance has been somewhat inconsistent so far. Abbott has struggled at times to find consistent command during exhibition play, leading to some less‑than‑ideal results in his early outings.
Even so, the Reds clearly trust his ability to deliver when the regular season begins. His strong 2025 campaign demonstrated that he can handle a full workload and perform against high‑level competition, which made him the obvious choice to step into the Opening Day spotlight.
For Cincinnati, the decision also reflects how important Abbott could be if Greene’s injury lingers longer than expected. With the rotation suddenly facing uncertainty at the top, the team may rely heavily on Abbott to anchor the staff early in the season.
If he can replicate the form that earned him All‑Star honors last year, Abbott could once again play a crucial role in keeping the Reds competitive while they wait for Greene’s return.