Reds Beat: Andrew Abbott Is A Big Part Of What Makes These Reds Tick ‘I hope it goes the whole year and deep into October’

CINCINNATI — There’s no doubt that the most gifted player on the Reds is Elly De La Cruz. No one would argue that point.

He can do everything but pitch. We’ve seen that since the moment in May 2023 when he made his electrifying debut at Great American Ball Park against the Dodgers. He’s had his ups and downs. But still, he is the straw that stirs the Cincinnati baseball drink.

But when it comes to grit and maximizing talent, it would be hard to find someone in a Reds uniform who does more every five days than Andrew Abbott.

In sending Abbott (6-1, 1.87) to the mound in the opener against Minnesota Tuesday, the Reds went looking for their eighth win in 10 games and continue a string of winning baseball. coming off his first career complete game, a three-hit shutout of the Cleveland Guardians last Tuesday in Cleveland,

The lefty who is a throwback to the late, great Tom Browning, threw 110 pitches in the shutout and will be making his 12th start of the season. Abbott will be making his first career start against Minnesota.

That many pitches in this day and age of baseball is a unicorn, to be sure. But Francona, even watching the Carlos Santana drive die on the warning track in the glove of Will Benson for the final out, didn’t think Abbott was pushing it too hard.

“He’s fine,” Francona said. “I mean, in today’s game, people go crazy when somebody throws 100 (pitches). He’s fine. It really wasn’t that much. My point is, like, if guys throw 80 in four and a third, I think that takes way more out, right?”

Like Browning, there is precious little hard contact against Abbott. Among all pitchers with at least 60 innings, his hard-hit percentage of .308 is the best in the Majors. That means hitters are putting only 30 percent of balls in play with an exit velocity of more than 95 MPH.

Francona has seen his competitiveness up close. He got upset in a home game against the Cubs on May 24 when he didn’t want to come out of the game, the only one of the three the Reds won that weekend at Great American.

“It’s a hard thing to teach. I think part of it is a competitive nature,” Francona said. “I think (Wade) Miley you could probably in that category. Guys that maybe don’t break the radar gun but know what they have that day, and then take it and compete with that. That’s basically what it is.”

Asked what Francona likes about his personality, the Reds manager gave a classic Tito response.

“I like what are you getting at with this,” Francona said. “What I really like is he’s a good kid. He likes to pitch, you can tell, and he’s been terrific. I hope it goes the whole year and deep into October.”

Abbott could very well make his first All-Star team this July in Atlanta. If he keeps it up, he will wind up in conversation about starting the contest.

With Abbott leading the pitching staff, the Reds believe they are starting to play to their potential.

And following a successful road trip through Cleveland and Detroit, the Reds return home Tuesday to host the Minnesota Twins in the opener of a three-game series in Cincinnati.

The Reds have won seven of nine, including consecutive series wins against Arizona, Cleveland and Detroit. Minnesota has dropped four straight and is heading in the opposite direction, having been swept in all three games in Houston over the weekend and losers in eight of 10 games.

Asked if he’s sensing a different, happier mood about his club after a 4-2 trip through Cleveland and Detroit, Francona just laughed.

“I love that question, the mood,” Francona said. “We always want the mood to be the same. I don’t want them coming in here when we’ve lost a game or two and with their tail between our legs, that doesn’t (work). And again, when you’re if you’ve won some games, okay, like, move on. That’s how we feel like I guess I like it when people ask, because that means you’re doing okay. But we’ve got the Twins. That’s kind of what we think about.”

OTHER NOTES from Francona Tuesday:

Francona noted Elly De La Cruz has had “quieter feet” at the plate of late, leading to more consistent power

Francona on trying to keep Elly fresh for the whole season (140 games vs. 160): “We DH’d him the other day, and I felt like he thought he did something wrong. He kept telling me he goes, ‘I’m okay, I’m okay.’ I know you are. I’m just trying to give you a little help. Part of me loves the fact that he wants to play every inning. I really respect that. I actually love it. I don’t know if it’s the best thing for the player all the time, but unless a guy looks like he’s really dragging, my feeling is that if you give a guy a day every so often, it really helps him. He has not looked like he’s needed it physically. I so I don’t feel like there’s a reason to do it, but if there ever comes a time, I would certainly do it, just whether he likes it or not.”

Graham Ashcraft was placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained groin before Tuesday’s game, retroactive to Monday. Luis Mey was recalled from Triple-A Louisville to take his place in the pen.

Austin Hays was in clubhouse pregame with protective pad on his bruised left foot. Going out to swing in cage. Francona said Hays “felt really good” coming in today and will run in water tank.

Noelvi Marte has another MRI on Wednesday. If clean, then start in rehab games Friday.

On team winning 7-of-9 “we always want the mood to be the same”