Andrew Abbott Off To The Races Named Opening Day Starter

 Also  Follow Reds on https://athlonsports.com/

Dateline: Goodyear, Arizona

Andrew Abbott took the news running. The left handed ace of the Reds' staff was on his way to the NASCAR race eight minutes from the Reds camp at Phoenix Raceway.

Terry Francona named him as the opening day starter.

Francona hunted Abbott to tell him the news which is big news in Cincinnati and considered the ultimate honor for a Reds' pitcher.

"I think it's awesome. I don't take any thing for granted. It is an honor to represent the City of Cincinnati. Being there and seeing how big a holiday it is," Abbott said. "Having the chance with all the talent we have on this team. Any one of those guys deserve. I'm excited getting the ball and giving it my all."

It was like a full circle on a NASCAR track from this spring to last year.

"I started at the bottom. I was hurt. I started late," Abbott recalled. "I was just trying to get through the season healthy. It turned out to be one of my best so far. I obviously built on it, learned from it. It is a new year this year. Guys are going to have different approaches to be ready for you. We're trying to change along with them as they are. I'm super excited to do that again."

His family was certainly called the minute he got the news but not so.

"I'm going to see them at the race and I'll tell them then," Abbott said.

To add to the ironic timing of the news.

Abbott is meeting so many of his family members at the track, as the entire family are huge racing fans. The irony is that his parents are celebrating their 37th wedding anniversary at the Raceway. He got them tickets months ago.

"Tito was looking for me. He thought I already left. I was in the training room getting treatment and watching basketball. He told me they were going to announce it."

"We will all be at the races. I will have some cousins there an every thing. We're like the Clampets. When one of show up, 60 of us do," said Abbott referencing the 60's sitcom, the Beverly Hillbillies.

Most people would have said the Taylor's from Andy Griffith or the Cunninghams from Happy Days because Abbott is a dead ringer for Ronny Howard.

With that with a NASCAR jacket on Abbott was off to the races. First the checkered flag then the pennant race.