Andrew Abbott's uplifting update may not be enough to fend off Reds' spring standout

The encouraging news of Andrew Abbott’s impending return to live game action likely buoyed many Cincinnati Reds fans. Abbott threw live batting practice earlier this week to a quartet of Reds batters that included Elly De La Cruz, Jose Trevino, Stuart Fairchild, and Gavin Lux; a nice blend of left-handed and right-handed hitters.

Abbott's health, though, may not be the only thing that prevents him from filling an important role in the Reds starting rotation. He may have more to fear from his teammate, Carson Spiers.

Don’t get me wrong; a fully healthy Abbott would be a welcome addition to the rotation. He’s a crafty lefty who is second only to Hunter Greene in innings pitched for the Reds over the last two years. However, any questions or concerns about Abbott’s readiness should prompt the team to hand the baton to Spiers.

The excitement over Andrew Abbott’s swift return shouldn’t shift focus away from Reds' righty Carson Spiers

Spiers seems like he’s never gotten a fair shot at a rotation spot. In his brief stints in the majors over the past two seasons, he has bounced between a starting job and the bullpen, never quite establishing his footing. Similarly, he spent much of his time at Double-A filling a relief role and then transitioned back into the rotation at Triple-A. Consistency could go a long way for the young pitcher.

Spiers was the first Reds pitcher this spring to complete three innings, and he did so in marvelous fashion, striking out three batters and using just 37 pitches. Spiers faced a dozen Chicago Cubs' hitters last Sunday and induced five ground ball outs. He has walked just two batters over his five innings so far this spring.

Graham Ashcraft, another main competitor for the final rotation spot, has been nowhere near as effective or efficient. Spiers holds the edge by a wide margin in virtually every stat. The discrepancy is most stark in ERA where Ashcraft’s bloated 8.10 looks laughable next to Spiers’ 3.60.

Of course, spring stats are relatively meaningless, but the fact that manager Terry Francona and the Reds trotted Spiers out for three innings may indicate a path toward a starting role (either in the majors or at Triple-A) is in the cards for Spiers in 2025.

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