By Nathan Rode
National Supervisor

OLD WESTBURY, NY—The 2016 Metropolitan Baseball Classic kicked off Thursday at the New York Institute of Technology. This year’s event has six teams—Chet Lemon’s Juice, Evoshield Canes, FTB Tucci, SACSN National, Show California Baseball and Team Elite. Thursday and Friday will have games at NYIT and then things will shift to Citi Field for Saturday and Sunday.

The best performance of the first day was undoubtedly produced by LHP Andrew Abbott (Halifax County HS, VA). The Virginia recruit started for the Canes against SACSN, the second game of the day, and went four innings. He allowed just one run on two hits, didn’t walk anybody and struck out nine. He was in command early, pounding the strike zone and consistently hitting his spots. Abbott has a slight frame at 6 feet, 155 pounds and lands closed, pitching across his body, while sitting 84-86 mph with his fastball. He spins a good curveball, which ranged from 68-73 as he went used it for swings and misses as well as a get-me-over pitch. It has 2/8 shape. He threw just one changeup, but it was a good one with fade at 76.

Here are some other highlights from Thursday…