Mick Abel shoves in Rochester as IronPigs bash their way to a series win

Drew Smith
April 7, 2025
Phillies
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Well, that was more like it. After a rough spring debut in Grapefruit League play that left Phillies fans raising eyebrows, Mick Abel bounced back with authority on Saturday.

The 23-year-old right-hander carved up the Red Wings over six scoreless innings, striking out seven, walking nobody, and finally looking like the frontline prospect the Phillies drafted in the first round back in 2020.

Mick Abel: 6.0 IP | 4 H | 0 ER | 0 BB | 7 K

.@mickabel13 hit the gas for the @IronPigs yesterday with fastballs reaching over 97 MPH

6.0 IP | 4 H | 0 ER | 0 BB | 7 K pic.twitter.com/ac0UDL9Pmi
— Phillies Player Development (@PhilsPlayerDev) April 6, 2025

Let’s get this out of the way — yes, it’s Triple-A. Yes, it’s April. But when a pitcher with Mick Abel’s pedigree and recent control issues goes six clean innings with 15 whiffs and no walks, that’s worth talking about.

This was his first walk-free outing since 2023, and it came with command, conviction, and tempo. He threw 59 of 89 pitches for strikes, worked quickly, and most importantly, trusted his stuff.

That last part has been the key — and the concern.

Mick Abel Must Stop Nibbling and Start Dealing

Mick Abel’s never lacked the tools: mid-90s fastball with life, a vicious slider, and a changeup that can flash plus. The issue has always been nibbling. Over the past two seasons, he’s walked 143 hitters in 221 innings. That’s not a stat — it’s a red flag.

But Saturday felt different. He pounded the zone. He didn’t shy away from contact. And when he needed swing-and-miss, he had it.

If this is the version of Mick Abel we’re getting in 2025, the conversation around his future in Philly gets a whole lot more interesting.

Mick Abel’s margin for error in the Phillies’ long-term rotation picture is shrinking — especially with guys like Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, and Ranger Suárez firmly in place, and Andrew Painter looming.

But if Saturday was a turning point — not a one-off — then the upside is still very real. It’s on Abel now to stack outings like this and prove he belongs back in the conversation.

The talent never left. He just has to keep finding the zone.

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