Andrew Abbott threw his first live bullpen session of the spring on Sunday.

Fantasy Impact

Abbott said he thinks he has time to get ready for the first turn through the rotation. "Big step, big checkmark," he said. "I feel really confident where we are."

Reds manager Terry Francona said Friday that Andrew Abbott’s (shoulder) readiness for the regular season’s start is still unclear, per team updates.

Fantasy Impact

Abbott’s coming off a shoulder strain that landed him on the IL last year, and a deliberate spring ramp-up got derailed by the flu this week—leaving him short of a 100-pitch buildup by Opening Day, per Francona. The 25-year-old lefty might still slot into the rotation if he can handle five innings; otherwise, Graham Ashcraft or Carson Spiers could cover the No. 5 spot early. Fantasy managers should watch his next steps—his mid-rotation upside’s on hold until he’s fully stretched out.

Andrew Abbott (shoulder) returned to camp Sunday after missing two days due to illness, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Fantasy Impact

While Abbott is back with the team, he is still not scheduled to face hitters in live batting practice. The Reds plan to assess how the brief absence affected his progression before determining his next steps. The left-hander is working his way back from a shoulder issue and will need to ramp up before making his Cactus League debut. If healthy, Abbott should be a key part of Cincinnati’s rotation, but any further setbacks could jeopardize his readiness for Opening Day.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Andrew Abbott is "on a good progression" in his recovery from a shoulder injury.

Fantasy Impact

Abbott entered camp behind schedule after dealing with a shoulder injury at the end of last season. We wanted to do it correctly," Francona said. "I hope we’ll be rewarded for doing it correctly. I think he feels pretty good about it too.”

Andrew Abbott is behind the other pitchers for the Reds as camp begins.

Fantasy Impact

Abbott missed the final six weeks of last season and it doesn't appear that he has had the cleanest offseason working his way back. He has yet to be cleared to face live hitters.