Mick Abel is ready for the big leagues
With Andrew Painter out for the season, Mick Abel takes over for the 2024 season as the top pitching prospect in the Phillies organization. The 49th-ranked prospect in MLB Pipeline's Top 100 was invited to Phillies spring training and has impressed so far.
Though he missed his second game with an illness, the one inning he has pitched so far showed glimpses of what he is capable of.
In one full inning, Abel retired the Yankees in order, throwing 16 pitches with 11 strikes while striking out two. He featured five different pitches in his one inning of work: a four-seam fastball ranging from 95-96 mph, a curveball at 79-80 mph, a changeup at 87 mph, a sinker at 94-95 mph, and lastly a slider at 83-85 mph. This is quite the arsenal that he’ll be able to attack hitters with.
Abel making the big league team will set him up for even more success in the future. He’ll be able to see how top pitchers like Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola carry themselves and prepare. He’ll also have direct communication with pitching coach Caleb Cotham and will have standout defensive and game management catchers, J.T. Realmuto and Garrett Stubbs, working with him.
Abel is ready to contribute, and the Phillies should break camp with him on the roster.