The Philadelphia Phillies and their supporters should be pleased with the recent advancements of numerous prospects in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100. However, one notable player has seen a significant drop.
Mick Abel, a highly regarded Phillies prospect, has experienced a sharp decline. The 22-year-old right-handed pitcher, previously ranked No. 49, has fallen to No. 63, marking a 14-spot decrease. Within the Phillies’ Top 30, Abel has also slipped from second to third place, now trailing Aidan Miller.
After a solid 2023 season with the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils, where he posted a 5-6 record, 4.13 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 132 strikeouts in 113 1/3 innings across 23 starts, Abel was expected to continue his upward trajectory with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Despite a high walk rate of 5.20 BB/9, there were high hopes for his MLB debut this season.
Unfortunately, Abel has struggled significantly this year with the IronPigs. His control issues have persisted, and his fastball velocity has dipped to 93-94 mph. Consequently, he has recorded a disappointing 5.40 ERA, 1.68 WHIP, and a .270 opponent batting average in six starts, the worst statistics of his professional career.
His strikeout rate has dropped from 11.57 K/9 to 8.64 K/9, while his walk rate remains high at 5.94 BB/9. Additionally, his hit rate has increased to 9.18 H/9 from last year’s 6.2 H/9. This regression has likely contributed to his fall in the rankings.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25304658/usa_today_22618840.jpg)
However, the season is still young, and there’s hope that Abel can adjust and improve as the year progresses. As one of the Phillies’ top pitching prospects alongside Andrew Painter, the organization remains optimistic that Abel is experiencing a minor setback rather than a significant decline.
Abel’s continued presence in the MLB Pipeline Top 100 highlights the potential he still holds, reflecting the confidence many, including the Phillies, have in his abilities.
Mick Abel’s poor performance in 2024 has caused his stock to decline.
The Philadelphia Phillies and their supporters should be happy to note that a good number of their prospects have moved up in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects, as of late. One of the group’s biggest droppers, though, is a highly touted Phillies prospect.
Mick Abel, the opening pitcher, is that player. The 22-year-old right-hander, who was ranked No. 49 earlier, is now ranked No. 63, a massive 14 spots lower. In the Phillies Top 30, he also lost his second place and dropped to No. 3 behind Aidan Miller.
With the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils, he pitched a strong 2023 season, going 5-6 with a 4.13 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 132 strikeouts in just 113 1/3 innings over 23 starts.
Abel was anticipated to maintain his consistent growth and development with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs this season, despite a high walk rate of 5.20 BB/9.
There were even some very optimistic anticipation that he may debut in Major League Baseball this season.
Phillies’ top prospect dips in an unfortunate MLB Pipeline Top 100 update.
Abel, though, has had a difficult start to the season with the IronPigs this year. He has not only been having trouble with location, but he has also witnessed a slight drop in velocity from his fastball, down to 93–94 mph.
Consequently, he has recorded his least impressive 5.40 ERA, 1.68 WHIP, and opponent batting average of.270 in six starts thus far, which are by far the lowest in his professional baseball career.
His strikeout percentage has decreased from 11.57 K/9 to 8.64 K/9, but his walk rate is still high at 5.94 BB/9.
His hit rate is now 9.18, a significant increase from 6.2 H/9 it was previous year. His recent decline in ranks is probably largely due to the regression he has shown this season.
The good news is that the season is still young. Maybe Abel is just fine-tuning his skills at this point and will add more polish as the season goes on.
Alongside Andrew Painter, he is one of the organization’s best pitching prospects, thus the Phillies are hoping he has simply hit a small roadblock in his growth rather than a huge one.
His continuous ranking in the MLB Pipeline Top 100, however, amply demonstrates the tremendous potential he still possesses in the eyes of many, including the Phillies.
