Will Andrew Abbott's success push Levi Stoudt into the Reds bullpen?

Pitching prospect Andrew Abbott joined the Cincinnati Reds last week and made his major league debut against the Milwaukee Brewers. Abbott pitched a no-hitter into the fifth inning, and finished the game with six shutout innings, allowed four walks, and recorded six strikeouts.

While this was a great start for Abbott, it left a question in the minds of many fans, myself included. With the early success of Abbott, what will come of Levi Stoudt?

Stoudt is another solid young arm who is still trying to find his stride. The right-hander came to the Reds along with Edwin Arroyo, Noelvi Marte, and Andrew Moore from the Seattle Mariners last summer.

Will Andrew Abbott's success push Levi Stoudt into the Reds bullpen?

Levi Stoudt's first major league was far from ideal. On April 19th against the Tampa Bay Rays, Stoudt gave up nine hits and tallying seven earned runs. He also walked one batter and struck out three.

On the flip side, Abbott saw a lot of success in his first start, becoming the only left-handed pitcher of the modern era to pitch six scoreless innings while striking out six players, and not allowing more than one hit in his debut. It was only one start for each pitcher, but Abbott shined and Stoudt just didn't look good at all in his MLB debut.

The bullpen, which has been solid lately, can always use some depth. However, right now it's best to proceed with caution when it comes to Stoudt as he has been struggling even on the Triple-A level and is currently on the seven-day injured list.

The Cincinnati Reds should ride the Andrew Abbott train as long as they can. The Reds, who at one point were known for not having the best pitching, could very well see a change in that narrative. If Andrew Abbott stays hot, it could be a sign of great things to come for the Cincinnati Reds.