Andrew Abbott opens up on Reds' Opening Day parade, suspenseful All-Star honor

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott's season has been so sparkling to date that, if he'd been left out of the All-Star Game festivities, it would've represented a statistical rarity if not an outright baseball crime. Thankfully, he was bestowed the honor before things got too hectic - though he didn't find out the traditional way. Instead of pumping his fist at the Selection Show after sitting with rapt attention, he earned his plaudits a few days later, informed by a wry Terry Francona in the dugout, followed by a screaming teammate cluster.

"We were all sitting in a circle. I thought I was getting yelled at, for maybe saying a joke too loud or something," Abbott recalled. "And then [Francona] says, 'Hey, I'm gonna tell you guys one thing: Andrew Abbott's an All-Star,' with a few choice words in there. I got pelted with gum, ice, water. Doused with it."

Heading to the All-Star Game represents league-wide recognition and admission into an elite, nationally televised club. But Abbott's first major local honor came prior to last season, when he was tapped to participate in the Reds' Opening Day parade festivities.

The event, which shuts down the streets of Cincinnati for hours prior to first pitch, featured Abbott riding in an open-topped car through the city that he was about to mesmerize. What did that mean to him, after an 8-6 record and 3.87 ERA in 21 starts during his rookie year?

Andrew Abbott of the Cincinnati Reds explains Opening Day parade honor

"You know, I didn't really know how big it was in Cincinnati. You hear stories. Votto had told us, 'Hey, it's a national holiday,' but to see the fans come out, to see the support system that we have there is great," Abbott recalled. "To be a part of it was fantastic - just to see the fans, wave at 'em, know that they're having a good time, and then to win the game, obviously, is the number one thing."

Now, Abbott understands the gravity of what baseball means in his new city, which has only made his made-for-the-moment performance this season look all the more impressive. He may have been a late addition to the All-Star roster, but he seemed to be mentally prepared for the moment even before it arrived.

"I actually didn't have any [plans to cancel]. I was in the process of drawing them up, figuring out what I should be doing, and that's when Tito told me," Abbott laughed. "It kind of put a curse on all of those things."