Mick Abel Returns to Philadelphia for Final Start of Rookie Season

PHILADELPHIA — Mick Abel is set to return to Citizens Bank Park on Saturday for the final start of his rookie season with the Minnesota Twins. This comes four months after he made a dazzling major-league debut for the Philadelphia Phillies, where he outperformed the Pirates’ ace, Paul Skenes, in a thrilling 1-0 victory on May 18.

Abel, who was a first-round draft pick in 2020 and a former top prospect in the Phillies’ system, faced challenges during his first full season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2024. However, he embraced a new mental approach to pitching, allowing him to excel in the minor leagues and earn a spot in the major leagues.

“It’ll be special,” Abel said Friday from the visitors’ clubhouse. “This place is a special place, just because I started my career here and was able to at least make an impression. I’m super excited for it.”

In his debut, Abel pitched six scoreless innings against the Pirates but struggled in subsequent starts for the Phillies. The team, featuring a crowded rotation, decided to trade Abel to the Twins for closer Jhoan Duran at the trade deadline.

“I made a lot of really good relationships over there,” Abel reflected on his time with the Phillies. “It was definitely hard at first to accept that. I think that was the hardest part about getting traded.”

Now 24, Abel has experienced a rough transition, allowing 13 earned runs in just eight innings over three appearances with the Twins. Despite these struggles, former teammate Kody Clemens believes Abel will find opportunities for growth in Minnesota.

“There’s obviously a bigger opportunity for him here to go out and relax and get multiple starts under his belt in the big leagues,” Clemens said.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson stated he is happy for Abel, expressing confidence in his potential. “He’s got really good stuff. He’s got a really bright future,” Thomson said.

As Abel prepares to face the Phillies again, he expressed excitement about reuniting with teammates and friends, including Griff McGarry, who recently received the club’s Paul Owens Award.

Abel said he will continue to support the Phillies, noting, “I’ll be watching them when they compete in the postseason.”

Meanwhile, the Phillies are focused on securing a higher playoff seed, hoping to avoid first-round matchups against tougher teams.