Reds fans feared the worst but Andrew Abbott had other plans on Opening Day

Andrew Abbott's spring was one to forget. The left-hander made six starts, but posted a grotesque 11.72 ERA. While his 22 punch outs over 17⅔ innings were impressive, he allowed 25 runs on 28 hits ands walked eight batters during Cactus League play.

Some of the Cincinnati Reds faithful were nervous seeing Abbott on the mound for the team's Opening Day matchup against the Boston Red Sox, but the left-hander squelched those fears rather quickly.

Andrew Abbott silenced the critics with strong Opening Day performance

Abbott allowed his fair share of base hits — a couple of which might've been overturned if Terry Francona hadn't burned through his challenge in the first inning — but he still went six strong and didn't allow a single run to dent the plate.

Abbott's final line reads six innings pitched, seven hits allowed, with four strikeouts, just one walk, and no runs. Those concerns that some within the Reds fanbase had following Abbott's struggles this spring were quickly dismissed.

Abbott was handed the Opening Day nod after Hunter Greene landed on the 60-day injured list following arthroscopic elbow surgery. The Reds rotation became even thinner after Nick Lodolo was placed on the 15-day IL with a finger blister.

Abbott will be relied upon to lead the Cincinnati rotation during the early-going, and his Opening Day act will certainly calm any fears throughout Reds Country. The left-hander had his share of detractors from outside the organization as well, with several pundits citing some unflattering peripherals as reason for concern.

Though the Reds lost their Opening Day game to the Red Sox by a final score of 3-0, Francona and the coaching staff had to like what they saw from their 26-year-old hurler. Brady Singer will get the ball for the Reds' next game against the Red Sox on Saturday afternoon at Great American Ball Park, and Rhett Lowder will close out the series against Boston on Sunday.

Abbott will return to the mound for the Reds' series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates next week and will likely be going head-to-head against last year's NL Cy Young Award-winner Paul Skenes. If his next start is anything like what he displayed on Opening Day, Reds fans have nothing to worry about.