To fully understand the whirlwind that was Mick Abel’s 2025 season, you have to start with how his 2024 season ended. The then 22-year-old Abel finished his first full season at Triple-A and “disaster”
would hardly be the word for it. Abel started 24 games and finished with a 3-12 record to go with a 6.49 ERA in 108.2 IP. He had career worsts in strikeout rate (22.7%), walk rate (15.1%), and WHIP (1.81). A former first round pick and top 100 prospect, Abel was on the verge of losing that prospect status and being labeled a bust when the calendar shifted to 2025.
2025 stats with the Phillies:
6 starts, 2-2, 25 IP, 5.04 ERA, 1.36 WHIP
What went right:
But seemingly out of nowhere, Abel turned a corner to start 2025. He started off well in Lehigh Valley and continued to put together good performances, sitting with a 5-2 record and a 2.53 ERA through his first eight starts. The most encouraging thing for Abel was he seemed to finally improve the control issues that plagued him and helped lead to his nightmarish 2024, as his walk rate was at a career best 9.9%.
Those eight starts were good enough to earn Abel a call to the Majors on May 18th to make his MLB debut in place of the injured Aaron Nola. His competition on that Sunday afternoon was none other than Paul Skenes, reigning NL Rookie of the Year and who was in the midst of a Cy Young winning season.
The 23-year-old Abel did everything asked of him and more in his debut, as he outdueled Skenes in a 1-0 victory, tossing six shutout innings and tying a Phillies record for strikeouts in an MLB debut with nine. Most importantly for Abel, he did not walk a single batter that magical afternoon.
Abel was then sent back to Lehigh Valley as the plan was only to make just the one spot start. But he returned 0n June 4th as the Phillies once again needed a starter with Zack Wheeler on paternity leave and Nola’s impending placement on the 60-day IL. His second start was encouraging as well, even though this one was a 2-1 loss in Toronto. Abel threw 5.1 innings and allowed one run on three hits with two strikeouts and still no walks.
What went wrong:
But that’s where it started to go south for Abel, who labored through four innings in his next start and allowed three runs on six hits with three walks. He needed 89 pitches just to get 12 outs against the Cubs. He rebounded a bit in his following start with another five innings and one run allowed, but the wheels came off in his fifth start against the Mets. Abel was shellacked to the tune of four runs on six hits, including four home runs, in just three innings pitched. He once again needed 73 pitches just to record nine outs.
Abel took the mound in Atlanta on June 27th but never actually threw a pitch thanks to a rain delay before then making his final appearance as a Phillie on July 2nd against San Diego. He struggled mightily yet again, surrendering five runs on two hits and walked five in just 1.2 IP, requiring 53 pitches to get five outs. That resulted in him being sent back to Lehigh Valley for the second time, except this time it was not part of a pre-ordained plan.
The future with the Phillies
Abel made his way back to the mound in Philadelphia on September 27th, except this time it was as a member of the Minnesota Twins. The now 24-year-old right hander was traded along with Eduardo Tait to Minnesota on July 30th in exchange for Jhoan Duran. Abel made four starts with the Twins in 2025, going 1-3 with an 8.36 ERA. He lasted longer than four innings in just one of those starts, coincidentally it was the one in Philadelphia where he threw six shutout innings with nine strikeouts in a win again, just like in his MLB debut a little over four months before.
Obviously, Abel’s time with the Phillies organization ended when he was traded to the Twins for Duran. However, his resurrection from failed prospect to legitimate trade chip allowed the Phillies to land the star closer for a palatable price. Abel deserves credit for battling his way through the last few years to earn a callup to the Majors, one that seemed to be slipping away at the onset of this year. His small handful of good starts with the Phillies came at a time when their rotation seemed tenuous, so he also deserves credit for helping the team when they needed it. But in the end, his old problems from the Minors reared their ugly head again and put him out of the Phillies plans. Who knows what the rest of Abel’s career will bring or if he will ever establish a firm foothold in the Majors, but his legacy in Philadelphia will be tied to whatever Duran does in his Phillies tenure.
