Mick Abel, the 23-year-old pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, has been optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after struggling with a 5.04 ERA through six starts in the majors. Phillies manager Rob Thomson emphasized the decision was made to help him regain his form both physically and mentally. Abel initially showed promise at the start of his career, going 11 innings without allowing a run, but faced challenges in his last few outings, particularly in his recent start against the San Diego Padres, where he gave up five runs and walked five batters in just 1⅔ innings.
Thomson expressed optimism that this minor league stint will allow Abel to rebuild his confidence, drawing parallels to other successful Phillies pitchers like Cristopher Sánchez and José Alvarado who also benefitted from similar resets early in their careers. “Just get his confidence back and be able to get through tough situations, adversity. And he’s done it before,” said Thomson, underscoring his belief in Abel’s potential.
With Abel’s absence, Taijuan Walker is set to take the fifth starter role temporarily, marking a shift in plans for Walker, who had previously been stabilized in a bullpen role. Thomson anticipates Walker will pitch around four innings in his upcoming start against the San Francisco Giants.
Also, the team has called up right-handed pitcher Seth Johnson, who made a positive impression in his last appearance by throwing two scoreless innings. Meanwhile, Aaron Nola is making progress in his recovery from a rib injury, participating in bullpen sessions as he prepares for a return, with plans to continue rehabilitation in Clearwater, Florida.
As the Phillies approach the All-Star break, they will reevaluate their rotation and strategies, keeping hope alive for improvements that can enhance their chances as the season progresses. The team’s focus on nurturing young talent like Abel and optimizing the lineup reflects their commitment to both the present and future success.