Has the workload become too much for Reds rookie pitcher Andrew Abbott?

Injuries to the Cincinnati Reds starting rotation have become a mounting concern this season. It began with Connor Overton and only snowballed from there.

Nick Lodolo last pitched for the Reds on May 6th, while Hunter Greene has been out since June 18th. In a corresponding move, Andrew Abbott got the call from Louisville and gave this team a much needed front of the rotation arm.

Abbott has been the best pitcher to put on a Reds uniform this season. With six wins on the season, Abbott has an ERA of 2.93 with a WHIP 1.15. The NL Rookie of the Year candidate has shown why he was a second-round pick for the Reds in 2021.

Has the workload become too much for Reds rookie pitcher Andrew Abbott?

However, as Andrew Abbott has now reached a career-high in innings pitched, is the heavy workload beginning to weigh on him? Abbott has uncharacteristically allowed 10 earned runs during his last two starts.

According to FanGraphs, Abbott threw 118 innings in 2022 while playing at both High-A Dayton and Double-A Chattanooga. The left-hander has already surpassed his inning count this season with 123 innings of work with stops in both Double-A and Triple-A as well as the major leagues.

Before the All-Star break opposing hitters were hitting just .192 against Abbott, but in the second-half of the 2023 season, that number has jumped to .240.

Over his last two starts Abbott has allowed eight walks per nine innings, where his BB/9 was a smooth 2.77 beforehand. Abbott, unsurprisingly is walking more batters and getting hit more as his inning total rises.

Andrew Abbott is having a great rookie year and has been a major contributor to the Cincinnati Reds starting rotation this season, but he may be getting worn down. At 24 years old, Abbott has pitched more this season than he has in his whole career.

It has been mentioned that Abbott does not have any restrictions going into the second-half of the season, but this may be something the Reds need to keep an eye on as time progresses. The career-high in innings pitched may have finally caught up with rookie hurler.