Mick Abel

Mick Abel
Abel with the Clearwater Threshers in 2021
Philadelphia Phillies
Pitcher
Born: (2001-08-18) August 18, 2001 (age 23)
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
U-18 Baseball World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2019 Gijang Team

McLean Stine "Mick" Abel (born August 18, 2001) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). Abel was selected by the Phillies in the first round with the 15th overall pick of the 2020 MLB draft.

Amateur career

Abel grew up in Cedar Mill, Oregon, and helped lead the Cedar Mill Little League team win a state title as a youth.[1] He graduated from Jesuit High School, where he was both a first baseman and a starting pitcher on the baseball team. Abel's sophomore season was cut short by an injury to his non-throwing shoulder that required surgery.[2] As a junior Abel posted a 10–0 record with a 1.26 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 72+1⁄3 innings pitched while also batting .294 with 12 runs scored and 14 RBIs as he helped lead the Crusaders to a state championship and was named the Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year and a Junior All-American by MaxPreps.[3][4][5] In 2019, he was selected for U-18 United States national baseball team.[6] Entering his 2020 senior season Abel was named a preseason All-American by MaxPreps and Baseball America and was considered to be a top prospect for the upcoming draft.[7][8][9] He was also ranked the fourth best collegiate prospect in the nation and committed to play at Oregon State University after his freshman year of high school.[10]

Professional career

Abel was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies with the 15th overall selection in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.[11] Abel signed with the Phillies for a $4.075 million bonus.[12] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[13]

Abel made his professional debut in 2021 with the Low-A Clearwater Threshers.[14] Over 14 starts, he went 1-3 with a 4.43 ERA and 66 strikeouts over 44+2⁄3 innings.[15] He missed time during the season due to a shoulder injury.[16] Abel was assigned to the Jersey Shore BlueClaws of the High-A South Atlantic League at the beginning of the 2022 season.[17] He went 7-8 with a 4.01 ERA and 103 strikeouts over 18 starts with Jersey Shore before being promoted to the Reading Fightin Phils of the Double-A Eastern League.[18] In his Double-A debut on August 20, Abel allowed two runs and struck out eight batters in six innings to earn the win over the Portland Sea Dogs.[19]

Abel spent the 2024 campaign with the Triple–A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, making 24 starts and struggling to a 3–12 record and 6.46 ERA with 117 strikeouts across 108+2⁄3 innings pitched. On November 19, 2024, the Phillies added Abel to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[20]

References

  1. ^ "Dashed dreams, canceled seasons, iPad education: Jesuit baseball offers peek into high school life during coronavirus crisis". The Oregonian. March 25, 2020.
  2. ^ Singledecker, Matt (July 26, 2018). "Wilson, Jesuit baseball excited for big '19 season". Beaverton Valley Times.
  3. ^ Stephens, Mitch (April 10, 2020). "Spring Spotlight: Class of 2020 high school baseball pitchers, catchers we're missing". CBSSports.com.
  4. ^ Newman, Logan (July 25, 2019). "The Class of '20: The top 20 athletes in the Class of 2020". USA Today.
  5. ^ "Ace pitcher Mick Able wins 2019 Prep Baseball Player of the Year". NBC Sports Northwest. July 29, 2019.
  6. ^ "Forty-One USA Baseball Alumni Selected in the 2020 MLB Draft". USA Baseball. June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  7. ^ Krupke, Nick. "Senior spotlight: Jesuit HS pitcher, OSU signee among top high school prospects leading into MLB draft". KPTV.com.
  8. ^ "Mick Abel Has A Chance To Buck MLB Draft History". Baseball America. May 20, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  9. ^ "Mick Abel vs. Jared Kelley: 2020 MLB Draft Prospect RHP Rankings". Baseball America. May 20, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  10. ^ "OSU baseball: Beavers add 10 players in Canham's first class". Corvallis Gazette-Times. November 13, 2019.
  11. ^ Lauber, Scott (June 11, 2020). "Phillies first-round draft pick Mick Abel's high school coach says there's even more to the pitcher than meets the eye". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  12. ^ Breen, Matt (June 24, 2020). "Phillies sign first-round pick Mick Abel". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  13. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  14. ^ Lauber, Scott (June 7, 2021). "The Phillies need 19-year-old Mick Abel to become an ace. He reminds one scout of 'young Roy Halladay.'". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  15. ^ "Abel reps Phils on new Top 100 Prospects list". MLB.com.
  16. ^ "Phillies top pitching prospect Mick Abel dealing with shoulder tendinitis". August 24, 2021.
  17. ^ "Phillies' Mick Abel: Missing bats in High-A". CBSSports.com. RotoWire. May 3, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  18. ^ Lauber, Scott (August 14, 2022). "Phillies set to promote top pitching prospects Mick Abel and Andrew Painter to double A". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  19. ^ "Mick Abel 2022 Minor Leagues Game Logs & Splits". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  20. ^ "Phillies Outright John McMillon". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 21, 2024.