We knew that Mick Abel would be back with the Philadelphia Phillies this week. With the top pitching prospect lined up to start Wednesday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Phillies made the move official a few hours before first pitch.
The only real question was who would be moved off the active 26-man roster to make room for Abel. The answer worked out nicely for the Phillies. With ace Zack Wheeler and his wife Dominique awaiting the birth of their third child, he was officially moved to the paternity list as the corresponding roster move.
Prior to tonight’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Phillies recalled RHP Mick Abel from Lehigh Valley (AAA). To make room for him on the 26-man roster, RHP Zack Wheeler has been placed on the paternity list.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 4, 2025
Mick Abel makes second MLB start on Wednesday, Zack Wheeler likely for a weekend start
Wheeler's originally scheduled start on Tuesday had already been scrapped because the Phillies knew that he'd have to be back home this week. Left-hander Cristopher Sanchez got the Tuesday start and picked up his fifth win of the year in the Phillies' 8-3 victory. Players can be on the paternity list for a maximum of three days, which means Wheeler is tentatively lined up to start on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Phillies haven't officially announced their rotation past Thursday's series finale.
Abel was originally scheduled for Thursday's series finale, but got bumped to Wednesday. This will mark his first major league outing since his dazzling debut on May 18. The Phillies' No. 8 MLB Pipeline prospect out dueled Pirates ace Paul Skenes, throwing six shutout innings while striking out nine to win his first MLB game.
Mick Abel ties the @Phillies record since at least 1901 (Curt Simmons, 1947) with the most punchouts in an MLB debut!
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 18, 2025
6 IP
5 H
0 R
0 BB
9 K pic.twitter.com/dhjGXP6rmt
The 23-year-old right-hander went back down to Triple-A after that spot start and made two starts for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. He struck out a combined 16 batters in 10 2/3 innings while allowing just two runs in the pair of outings. He did walk seven over the two starts, however. With known issues with command that has held him back in the minors, he dialed in during his debut and didn't walk a single Pirates hitter.
On the season in Triple-A, Abel has a 6-2 record, a stingy 2.21 ERA, with 67 strikeouts and 26 walks in 57 innings.
Assuming he holds his own in his second big league stint, Abel should stick in the rotation until veteran right-hander Aaron Nola returns from his ankle injury. The Phillies tried to insert Taijuan Walker back into the starting five, they ultimately decided to return him to the bullpen and stop shuffling him back and forth between starting and relieving.