Feb 25, 2024; Clearwater, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Mick Abel (74) throws a pitch against the New York Yankees in the sixth inning at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Mick Abel got called into Lehigh Valley manager Anthony Contreras' office while the team was up in Syracuse earlier this week.
He wasn't sure what the meeting was about, and Contreras started talking about the team's success so far this season and how they've done a nice job of not getting too high off that success but also not dwelling too much on the lows.
Then, almost nonchalantly, Contreras dropped one more bit of news that caught Abel off guard.
He was being called up to the Phillies.
"I was a little awestruck," Abel said. "I was like, 'oh shoot, he said my name.'"
Abel said he put his head down and didn't know how to feel. He said in the moment he was overwhelmed and the emotions started to flow.
Once he collected himself, Abel knew there was something important he had to do - call home.
"It was super sweet," he said. "I called my dad and asked if my mom was in the room. I put them on speaker and added my brother to the call and told them I was going to the big leagues. I think they were just as shocked as I was. So, it was pretty cool."
Mick Abel will make his MLB debut on Sunday. The 2020 1st-round pick spoke with poise about facing Pirates phenom Paul Skenes at Citizens Bank Park.
“At the end of the day, it’s the same game. It’s just a different place.” pic.twitter.com/dZEdGlN3EF
Abel will make his major league debut on Sunday, making a spot start for the Phillies. It's only going to be one start, and then he'll be heading back down to Triple-A. The Phillies told him that in advance, to try and ease the pressure.
"We did (the same thing) with (Cristopher) Sánchez a couple years ago," manager Rob Thomson said. "I FaceTimed him and said, 'you're coming up here and it's just one start and then you are going right back. So come up here and just be yourself. Pitch like you are right now and you're going to have success. Just relax and have fun. Enjoy the moment.' He did and he pitched really well."
Of course, Abel has to make his debut squaring off against the most electric name in pitching in the majors these days - Pittsburgh's Paul Skenes.
Hey, no pressure, right?
"I'm super excited," Abel said. "I'm expecting all the nerves in the world. But at the end of the day, it's the same game, just in a different place. Just to make it here, it's pretty special."
Abel is being called upon because the Phillies need a spot start after placing Aaron Nola on the 10-day injured list on Friday with a sprained ankle.
Nola tried to pitch through the ankle injury, but it impacted his delivery, and his results. He gutted out an effort in Cleveland where he allowed four runs, but was torched in the worst outing of his career on Wednesday against St. Louis, prompting the team to put him on the IL.
The plan is for Nola to just play catch for the next few days and he will likely throw a bullpen once the team gets to Colorado next week. The Phillies don't expect him to be on the IL for much longer than the required 15-day stint.
As such, Abel will make this start so Taijuan Walker, who also threw three innings Wednesday, can stay on pace to slot into Nola's spot in the rotation next Wednesday.
Abel's season so far has been a revelation for the Phillies after he struggled through a brutal 2024 where his star as a top prospect in the majors had fallen hard.
But internally, the Phillies remained bullish on Abel. They felt that as he matured, he would get back to being that top prospect. He has flourished so far in 2025.
"My history with Mick goes back a long time," said Phillies general manager Preston Mattingly. "I saw him in the Area Code Games in 2018. He's always been extremely talented with good stuff. I got here in 2021 and he was the team's first-round pick in 2020.
"I think people forget he was a COVID high school pitcher so he didn't get to pitch his last high school season. I think everybody wants a prospect's progress to be this rocket ship that goes straight up to the major leagues. It doesn't work like that for everybody."
MICK ABEL IS FINALLY GOING TO MAKE HIS MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT SUNDAY!
It’s a spot start, but one of the Phillies top prospects for many years has finally made it to the show!
Let’s go Mick! pic.twitter.com/mAGh6xAJwQ
After a disastrous 2024, Abel has rebounded and been every bit of the high-end pitching prospect the Phillies had hoped he'd be so far in 2025.
In eight starts for Lehigh Valley, Abel has a 2.53 ERA across 46 1/3 innings. He has 51 strikeouts vs. 19 walks. His fastball sits between 95 and 97 mph and his off-speed stuff has been very good.
He's a different pitcher than he was just a season ago, and that has the Phillies excited - even the guy he's temporarily replacing on the roster.
"I love debuts, I love them," Nola said. "I just remember when I was in his shoes and it's pretty cool. It's a special moment that you will never forget. I'm happy for him. He's worked really hard."
Nola even had some advice for Abel.
"Just enjoy it," Nola said. "Absolutely enjoy it. You know, you only get one debut, so just enjoy everything about it - the stadium, the fans - you're pitching in the major leagues. It's a privilege to be here and pitch at the highest level."
Abel is flying his parents, his brother and his girlfriend in from Oregon for the game Sunday. He'll also have some friends in attendance. It'll be a special moment, for sure. Abel's just hoping to live in it.
"I don't really know how I'm going to take that deep breath or where I'm going to do it, but I'm excited to be out there and just live for the moment."
