Phillies' Mick Abel: Impresses once again Wednesday
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Abel didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Blue Jays after giving up one run on three hits and no walks in 5.1 innings. He struck out two.
Although Abel wasn't nearly as dominant as he was in his first start, when he fanned nine in six shutout innings, he was still highly effective Wednesday. The rookie right-hander generated just five whiffs, but he's now surrendered only one run while producing a promising 11:0 K:BB over the first 11.1 innings of his major-league career. With Aaron Nola (ankle) still yet to go on a minor-league rehab assignment, Abel's next turn in Philadelphia's rotation is tentatively slated for early next week against a Pirates club with a miserable .638 OPS over 31 games since the start of May.
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Phillies' Mick Abel: Called up for start
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The Phillies recalled Abel from Triple-A Lehigh Valley ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday in Toronto.
Zack Wheeler (personal) was placed on the paternity list in a corresponding move, but Abel will be taking over the rotation spot that had previously been occupied by Taijuan Walker, who has been moved to a relief role. Walker had been filling in for Aaron Nola (ankle), who has resumed throwing off a mound and should eventually take the rotation spot back from Abel once he's activated from the 15-day injured list. Nola will likely need to make a rehab start in the minors before being reinstated, so Abel should be in good position to get at least two turns through the rotation while he's up with the big club. The 23-year-old righty was highly impressive in his MLB debut back on May 18 against the Pirates, covering six shutout innings and scattering five hits while striking out nine batters.
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Phillies' Mick Abel: Set for start Thursday in Toronto
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Abel will be called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to start Thursday's game versus the Blue Jays in Toronto, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
In his MLB debut May 18 versus the Pirates, Abel dazzled with nine strikeouts over six shutout frames, but he was sent back to Lehigh Valley immediately afterward while the Phillies turned to veteran Taijuan Walker to replace the injured Aaron Nola (ankle). With Walker underwhelming in two starts, the Phillies have decided to move him to a bullpen role, opening a spot in the rotation for Abel. He won't necessarily be in store for a long-term stay in the big leagues, as Nola could begin a rehab assignment next week before returning from the injured list by the second week of June.
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Phillies' Mick Abel: Optioned after stellar debut
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The Phillies optioned Abel to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
The idea all along was for Abel's major-league debut Sunday against the Pirates to be a spot start, and the Phillies have stuck to the plan even after the rookie struck out nine over six scoreless innings. Taijuan Walker will now enter the rotation this week as the replacement for Aaron Nola (ankle). Abel will go back into Lehigh Valley's rotation but is sure to garner additional looks in the majors this season.
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Phillies' Mick Abel: Dazzles in debut
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Abel (1-0) yielded five hits over six shutout frames Sunday, striking out nine and earning a win over the Pirates.
Abel was promoted for his MLB debut Sunday and put on a clinic. He fired 62 of 84 pitches for strikes and threw 16 first-pitch strikes to the 22 batters he faced. Abel generated 18 whiffs, including eight with his curveball and seven with a fastball that averaged 97.3 mph. The 23-year-old posted a 6.46 ERA through 108.2 frames with Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2024, but he hit his stride this season with a 2.53 ERA across 46.1 innings before his promotion. It's unclear what the Phillies plan to do with Abel, but his next turn in the rotation would likely be on the road against the Athletics next weekend if he gets another start.
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Phillies' Mick Abel: Officially promoted to start Sunday
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The Phillies recalled Abel from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday.
It was reported Friday that Abel would be called up to make a start against the Pirates on Sunday, and the transaction is now official. Abel has thrived in Triple-A this season with a 2.53 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 51:19 K:BB across 46.1 innings, but he may be in line for just a spot start with the big club. Though Aaron Nola (ankle) landed on the injured list Friday, Taijuan Walker is expected to re-enter the Phillies' rotation during the coming week.
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Phillies' Mick Abel: Making MLB debut Sunday
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The Phillies will call up Abel from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to start Sunday's game against the Pirates, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander will be called up for a spot start Sunday with Aaron Nola (ankle) landing on the injured list. Abel likely won't stick around in the majors, however, since Taijuan Walker will fill Nola's spot in the rotation next week in Colorado. Abel is one of the organization's top prospects and has a 2.53 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 51:19 K:BB across 46.1 innings at Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season.
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Phillies' Mick Abel: Figuring out Triple-A
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Abel has a 1.96 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 47:17 K:BB in 41.1 innings over his last seven starts for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Abel's first start of the year was in line with his work at Triple-A in the past -- he gave up four runs on nine hits and two walks with four strikeouts in five innings March 30 -- but he has been dialed in since. The Phillies have a healthy and productive big-league rotation, but Abel looks like a post-hype option if they have need of a spot starter or injury fill-in before Andrew Painter is ready.
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Phillies' Mick Abel: Sent to Triple-A
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The Phillies optioned Abel to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.
Abel started Tuesday's Grapefruit League contest against the Red Sox and will head to minor-league camp after giving up four runs (three earned) over 1.2 innings. The right-hander had a 6.46 ERA in 24 starts last season in his first full year at the Triple-A level, and he'll likely need to improve upon those numbers to have a chance of making his MLB debut in 2025.
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Phillies' Mick Abel: Added to 40-man roster
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The Phillies added Abel to the 40-man roster Tuesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Abel's prospect stock has trended down each year since he was selected No. 15 overall in 2020. Initially he was seen as a potential No. 1 pitching prospect type, but he has never posted a walk rate below 10 percent and his stuff has stagnated. Abel logged a 6.46 ERA, 1.81 WHIP and a 117:78 K:BB in 108.2 innings at Triple-A last season and is unlikely to be more than an up-and-down arm in 2025.
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Phillies' Mick Abel: Joining big-league camp
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Abel will attend the Phillies' big-league camp this spring.
The 2020 first-round pick remains an interesting prospect, but he's been passed within his own organization by 2021 first-rounder Andrew Painter, who's moved into the conversation for top pitching prospect in the game. Painter appears to have a legitimate shot to break camp in the majors, but Abel isn't at that stage yet. That's not an insult to Abel, who's just 21 years old and has yet to reach Triple-A. He owns a 27.6 percent strikeout rate in 23 professional starts, but he'll need to trim his 10.6 percent walk rate to take the next step. If a 2023 major-league debut is in the cards, it will probably happen late in the year.
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Phillies' Mick Abel: Skidding in High-A
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Abel has a 5.28 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 27:14 K:BB across his last five starts (29 innings) for High-A Jersey Shore.
Though he turned in a six-inning quality start with seven strikeouts in his final start prior to the All-Star break, it's been a rough go for Abel lately overall. His control sometimes abandons him, and that's often led to meatballs over the plate that have been crushed. While Abel has the size and the raw stuff to be an excellent major-league starter, it's getting to be a little concerning that he hasn't been able to deliver sustained success in the minors yet. Of course, he's still 20 years old with plenty of time to get on track.
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Phillies' Mick Abel: Missing bats in High-A
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Abel has posted a 3.86 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 23:3 K:BB across 14 innings spanning four starts for High-A Jersey Shore.
He hasn't been asked to pitch very deep into games thus far, as he's only finished five innings once, but Abel has done a great job missing bats and limiting walks. The 2020 first-rounder will probably move methodically through the organization, as he's only 20 years old and doesn't yet have a ton of pro innings under his belt, so look for him to spend most of this season refining his craft at High-A.
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Phillies' Mick Abel: Expected to open in High-A
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Abel is expected to open the 2022 season at High-A, according to Baseball America.
Last year was a mixed bag for the 2020 Draft's No. 15 pick, as he put up a modest 4.43 ERA and 1.22 WHIP for Low-A Clearwater before being shut down with shoulder tendinitis, but he also struck out an impressive 66 batters in 44.2 innings. This season will be about refining his control and building up his innings count, so don't expect to see Abel in the big leagues quite yet, but he has one of the highest-upside arms in the minors.
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Phillies' Mick Abel: Dealing with shoulder tendinitis
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Abel is battling shoulder tendinitis and may not pitch again until the instructional league, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Abel hasn't pitched in over a month, and while he's reportedly feeling better, the Phillies have little reason to rush their 2020 first-rounder. He's had mixed results in his first professional season, striking out an impressive 34.9 percent of opposing batters in 14 starts for Low-A Clearwater but also issuing walks at a 14.3 percent clip, leading to a 4.43 ERA.
