Phillies 2020 First Round Draft Pick: Mick Abel
Pick: 15th overall
School: Jesuit High School (OR)
Position: Right-handed Pitcher
The Oregon State Gatorade Player of the Year in 2019 has had his ups and downs since joining the Phillies organization in 2020.
Coming out of the draft, Mick Abel was seen as a prospect with one of the highest ceilings in the first round. Like many others, his fastball/slider mix was ahead of his age but his 55-graded control put him in front of other high school arms that usually lack command.
Through his first four seasons in professional baseball, things haven't gone as expected for the 22-year-old. Across all levels of the minor leagues, Abel has pitched to an ERA over four, with his Triple-A ERA sitting at 6.69 in 16 games. His stuff has just not been as expected. In his four seasons, Abel has always been an MLB Pipeline Top 100 prospect but has fluctuated in those rankings.
Season | Prospect Ranking |
|---|---|
2021 | No. 75 |
2022 | No. 81 |
2023 | No. 48 |
2024 | No. 93 |
That being said, at the time it was the right pick, and up until the 2024 season, there had still been a ton of hype and promise surrounding the righty. If Abel is able (no pun intended) to turn his season around and get back on track with his development, he has the potential to be a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter in the big leagues.
Grade: B-