PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES TOP 10 PROSPECTS
1. MICK ABEL, RHP
AGE: 20. B-T: R-R. HT: 6-5. WT: 190. DRAFTED: HS—Portland, Ore., 2020 (1st round). SIGNED BY: Zach Friedman.
TRACK RECORD: Abel first emerged on the scene after striking out Riley Greene as a junior in 2019 and continued to gain steam over the next year. He ranked as the top high school pitcher for the 2020 draft thanks to an impressive four-pitch arsenal, pitchability and the best command in the class. The Phillies were ecstatic to draft him at No. 15 overall. The 20-year-old righthander had an encouraging full-season debut in 2021, ranking as the top pitcher in Low-A Southeast by league managers and pitching to a 4.43 ERA in 14 starts. Abel missed the last two months of the season with a shoulder injury, but he rejoined the team at instructional league.
Abel’s high school team didn’t take the field in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but he showed no rust in his pro debut. He has an athletic build at 6-foot-5, 190 pounds with projection remaining and a clean delivery. His fastball is his best pitch, ranging from 94-97 mph and topping out at 99. It’s a swing-and-miss pitch with huge vertical break and averages 2,500 rpms, giving hitters headaches. Abel’s slider was voted the best breaking pitch in the 2020 prep class by scouting directors and it lived up to its reputation in 2021. It’s a firm, hard pitch that sits in the mid-to-high 80s and blends well with his fastball, diving late on hitters. He’s made significant progress improving his
