‘Electric’ Mick Abel to make major-league debut for Phillies
PHILADELPHIA — Losing Aaron Nola for at least the next two weeks, the Phillies were in need of a starting pitcher for their upcoming stretch of 10 games in 10 days. Prospect Mick Abel earned an opportunity with his strong start to the year in the minor leagues.
Manager Rob Thomson delivered the news that Nola would be added to the 15-day injured list with a sprained right ankle on Friday, shaking up the team’s pitching plans for the time being. Reliever Daniel Robert will rejoin the club on Friday night after serving as the 27th man for a doubleheader on Wednesday.
Additionally, Abel will make a spot start for Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park, matching up against phenom Paul Skenes and the Pirates. The former first-round pick Abel struggled mightily in Triple-A last year, but he’s bounced back for an impressive beginning to the season. He’s finally set to make his major-league debut after being drafted in 2020.
“The stuff’s always been there. Now, he’s throwing strikes,” Thomson said. “He’s missing bats. His walk rate’s down. He’s just a very confident guy right now. Really excited to see him and see him pitch.”
Abel posted a subpar 6.46 ERA in 24 starts for Lehigh Valley last year. He often let himself harp on mistakes and couldn’t shake his failures. After working on his mindset throughout last season, he entered 2025 in a better place.
He now has his “own definition of what success is,” he said earlier this month, and focusing on the entire process of pitching in a healthier way has helped him find better results. The right-hander had a 2.53 ERA in eight starts for the IronPigs. His turnaround has been notable, and it’s given the Phillies a solid depth option in the rotation.
“I’m happy,” Phillies backup catcher Rafael Marchán said. “I’m happy for him. I know how hard he’s been working to make this happen, and it’s exciting to see how he’s going to look on Sunday.”
Marchán caught Abel at Triple-A in 2023 and 2024, and he could have another chance to work as his batterymate in a day game on Sunday. The backstop called Abel “electric,” and the 23-year-old’s arsenal has certainly been effective in the minors. An improved fastball has been a key to it all coming together.
“I definitely think my fastball command has been a lot better this year than years past,” Abel said last Thursday. “It’s always something that I pitched off of, and I think I’ve done a good job this year just controlling it a lot better.”
Abel was supposed to pitch for Lehigh Valley on Friday, but that start was skipped. He’ll get to Philadelphia on Saturday, Thomson said, and officially be activated for Sunday’s game. The Phillies will then need to make a corresponding roster move.
With Abel starting Sunday, the Phillies will push Cristopher Sánchez’s next start to Monday in Colorado as the team opens a four-game series against the Rockies. Tuesday would be Jesús Luzardo’s turn to pitch, and Thomson said Taijuan Walker will be taken out of the bullpen to start on Wednesday.
As of now, Abel will only be up in the big leagues for one start, something the team communicated to the young pitcher. But Sunday will still be a big occasion as he becomes the first pitcher drafted in the first round by the Phillies to make his debut with the club since Nola in 2015.
“That’s awesome,” Nola said of Abel being called up. “I love debuts. I love them. I just remember when I was in those shoes, and it is pretty cool. It’s a special moment that people won’t ever forget. I’m happy for him. He’s worked really hard.”