BREAKING: Reds Fans Receives Another Heart-Breaking News On Andrew Abbott During Spring Training

During the offseason, much of the discussion around the Reds revolved around their strong pitching depth and the lingering question of why they haven’t traded a starter to acquire a power-hitting outfielder.

As the saying goes, you can never have too much pitching.

Rhett Lowder is experiencing elbow soreness that will delay his start to camp, while Andrew Abbott is slightly behind schedule as he continues recovering from the shoulder injury that ended his 2024 season.

“We’re not too far off,” Abbott told MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon. “It’s been a normal offseason with a few minor setbacks. I stayed in contact with the team and let them know that taking things slow was probably the best approach to prevent a bigger issue down the line. They agreed, and we’re structuring things in a way that benefits both me and the team.”

The 25-year-old is already throwing bullpen sessions but isn’t quite ready for live batting practice.

“You’ll see him a little later than the others because we need to take care of him,” manager Terry Francona said. “We believe we can address this early rather than mishandle it. Our goal is to build a strong foundation so he can pitch significant innings.”

Abbott is widely expected to be part of the Opening Day rotation, though some major outlets have projected that rookie Rhett Lowder could challenge him for the spot.