As the 2025 season began, it marked a pivotal year for now former Philadelphia Phillies prospect Mick Abel, and it turned into a special one. The young right-hander started strong, earned a promotion to the majors just a few months in, and then capped off the campaign by being named the International League Pitcher of the Year.
His Triple-A season was recognized across the league, as managers and broadcasters in the International League voted for the award.
Abel pitched for two teams in the International League, appearing in 18 total games and posting a 7–2 record with a dominant 2.20 ERA. After a rough 2024 season in which he finished with a 6.46 ERA, he needed a strong bounceback year to get his career back on track.
He started the season with the Phillies' Lehigh Valley IronPigs, where he impressed early, putting up a 2.31 ERA across 13 starts and setting the tone for what would become a big season after his big league promotion and debut in May.
Mick Abel has been named the 2025 International League Pitcher of the Year!
— Lehigh Valley IronPigs (@IronPigs) October 1, 2025
He went 7-2 with a 2.31 ERA in 74 innings for the 'Pigs pic.twitter.com/cIXGa2BUw5
Former Phillies prospect Mick Abel earned his spot in MLB with bounceback 2025 season in Triple-A
Beginning the year in the Phillies’ minor league system, Abel quickly proved he was ready for the next step. He forced his way onto the big league roster and made his MLB debut on May 18 in memorable fashion, outdueling top prospect Paul Skenes with six shutout innings to earn his first major league win.
Abel’s promise caught the attention of other clubs, and he soon became a key trade chip. The Phillies dealt him, along with top catching prospect Eduardo Tait to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for closer Jhoan Duran, a move that benefited both teams. With the Twins' Triple-A affiliate, the St. Paul Saints, Abel made five starts, posting a stellar 1.85 ERA, solidifying his case for the league’s top pitching honor.
He eventually returned to the majors with the Twins. After a few bumps early on, Abel saved his best performance for a revenge game against his former team. In his return to Philadelphia, he threw six innings, allowed just three hits, struck out nine and picked up the win against the Phillies.
The trade appears to be a win-win: the Phillies landed a top-tier closer in Duran, while Abel rediscovered his form late in the season with the Twins. After such a disappointing 2024, Abel’s resurgence in 2025 shouldn't go unnoticed. He's a former Phillie to watch and a young arm fans should be excited about as he carves out his place in the big leagues.