High velocity and newfound command could drive Twins' Mick Abel to success

Mick Abel was a highly-touted recruit from Oregon. He was a two-time Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year and was set to play college baseball for Oregon State University. 

However, he would be selected 15th overall by the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2020 MLB Draft. He would go on to sign his pro deal and start his big-league career. 

Abel worked through the minors, made his MLB debut last season, and went on to make six starts. In Triple-A, he was named the International League Pitcher of the Year. 

MORE: Twins' insider puts the pressure on Liam Hendriks to step up this season

High velocity and newfound command could drive Twins' Mick Abel to success

Abel's time with the Phillies would come to an end ahead of the trade deadline. He was sent to the Minnesota Twins as part of the Jhoan Duran trade. 

He would appear in four games for Minnesota, compiling a 1-2 record with an 8.36 ERA across 14 innings of work. 

That's not great, but he is having a bounce-back spring. He has appeared in five games, striking out 23 batters with three walks, while keeping his ERA at 2.00, and reaching 97-99 mph on his fastball. 

He is someone that Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer is buying high on this season. 

"Abel was a top-100 prospect annually between 2021 and 2024 before he hit a wall in the minors and fell out of favor. Yet he started to find his groove with Minnesota's Triple-A affiliate last season, and he may still be in it. That's a heck of a K/BB ratio, and he's one of nine pitchers with a whiff rate north of 30 percent this spring. The fastball is averaging 96.4 mph, and he's showing more confidence in a curveball that misses bats."

With what he is doing this spring, it is going to be hard to deny Abel a spot in the rotation. Don't be surprised if he comes in as the No. 5 starter and continues to miss barrels.

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