Abbott set to team up with his former mentor to pass on his baseball knowledge | local sports

Although he quickly rose through the ranks of the Cincinnati Reds’ minor league farm system, currently playing for the Double A Chattanooga Lookouts and living nearly 450 miles from his hometown, Abbott is taking time during the offseason to give back to the place that made it.

Last November, the former Halifax County and University of Virginia standout pitcher hosted the first Andrew Abbott Pitching and Skills Camp on the baseball field of his former high school playground.

Expect the same this year as Abbott will team up with former minor leaguer Jeff Stevens for the second annual pitching and skills camp Nov. 5-6 at Halifax High School.

“I try to help, I try to give back to the community in any way I can,” Abbott said. “I had a lot of people who helped me get to where I am today, so I just want to give back and teach what I know is the best way to put it.”

During his second year of professional ball, Abbott witnessed the evolution of the game of baseball both on and off the field. And while he and Stevens will teach campers skills, they’ll also give them insight into how the game has changed.

“The game is changing these days, I’m in the game, I play professionally so I see more than everyone else so I try to teach them what I already know, the rules that have changed, something like that. best way I’ve found to do this is with a camp.

The camp will be a two-day event, taking place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The price is $100 for one day and $150 for both. Younger and older baseball players are encouraged to attend as the camp is designed for ages 7-17. The sessions for the youngest will take place from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. while the older ones will go from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

According to Abbott, day one will give players a chance to work on the fundamentals while day two will be more of an inside look at how high school, college and professional baseball works.

“I just try to teach them to play the right way, to have the right mentality for baseball,” Abbott said. “Day one is more of a defensive day, so just teaching the kids about good fieldwork and day two is a bullpen, teaching them what a bullpen looks like, what relief pitchers do for s ‘warm up, things like that.’

For pitchers, Saturday’s schedule will include pitching field practice (including banana routes), bunt defense, communication, double-play turns and pick-offs. Sunday’s itinerary will feature mechanical work, command and efficiency, with each child allowed 15-20 throws.

For non-pitchers, Saturday will include work on blocking, receiving, transfers, pickups and bunt game communications. The camp will end the next day with instructions on universal sign calling, blocking reception and dealing with emotions.