On the day UVA Baseball ushered in a new era with the signing of former Duke coach Chris Pollard, former Virginia pitcher Andrew Abbott provided more evidence of the program’s legacy.
Abbott, who wore a Cavalier uniform from 2108 to 2021, tossed a three-hit complete game as the Cincinnati Reds beat Cleveland 1-0 Tuesday evening.
It was the first complete-game effort for a Reds pitcher since 2022 and improved Abbott’s record to 6-1, while lowering his ERA to a staggering 1.87.
Abbott, who Cincinnati manager Terry Francona elected to send out for the ninth inning, began the inning a bit wobbly.
After walking the leadoff man, Abbott fell behind David Fry 3-0, with Cleveland heavy-hitter Jose Ramirez looming on deck.
Keep in mind, the lead was 1-0.
Abbott worked his way back from the hole to Fry and then induced a double play.
Amazingly, Franconia stuck with Abbott, not once but twice more.
Ramirez, certainly an imposing figure, regardless of the base situation, singled to center.
The next batter, Carlos Santana, ripped a long fly to what appeared to be the gap, until Reds leftfielder Will Benson made the catch near the wall.
Complete game and shutout preserved.
“Giant exhale,” Abbott said on the FanDuel Sports Network Ohio postgame show.
Abbott has been pitching like an All-Star since his 2025 debut in mid-April, having been placed on the 15-day injured list to begin the year, due to a rotator cuff strain.
In his last eight starts, he has an ERA of 1.37, going 6-1.
In addition to Abbott, three other pitchers from the Brian O’Connor era are pitching in the Majors.
Daniel Lynch has been pitching for Kansas City since making his MLB debut in 2021.
Lynch was drafted as the 34th overall pick by the Royals in 2018.
Noah Murdock, who KC selected in the seventh round of the 2019 MLB Draft, is now working in relief for the Royals.
Ironically, the Royals lost Murdock, 26, in the 2025 Rule 5 Draft to the Athletics.
In early May, the A’s designated Murdock for assignment.
After clearing waivers, Murdock was re-signed by the Royals.
Another former UVA pitcher, Mike Vasil, was drafted by the New York Mets in 2021 and was signed by the Chicago White Sox during the offseason.
Vasil made his MLB debut for Chicago on March 31.
On Sunday, Vasil and Kyle Teel, who played at Virginia from 2021-2023, formed an all-Virginia battery as Teel made his MLB debut, starting behind the plate for the White Sox.
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Chris Graham
