Phillies to promote Mick Abel, Orion Kerkering to Triple-A

Mick Abel is one of the top prospects in the Phillies organization. (Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire)

With the Double-A season coming to a close this weekend, the Philadelphia Phillies are reportedly rewarding some pitchers who stood out in Reading.

Former first-round pick Mick Abel and hard-throwing reliever Orion Kerkering headline a group of four that the Phillies will promote to Triple-A for the final week of the season, according to a Sunday report by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Alex Coffey. Right-hander McKinley Moore — who made three appearances for the Phillies in April — and left-hander David Parkinson will also be moving up to Lehigh Valley.

Abel, the No. 15 overall pick in the 2020 MLB draft, is heading to Triple-A for the first time after spending the 2023 season in Reading up to this point. It’s been an unspectacular but solid campaign for the 22-year-old starting pitcher in his first full year in the upper minors. Abel has a 4.14 ERA in 22 starts for the Fightins with 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings and 5.1 walks per nine.

While control problems have popped up at times for Abel, he’s been very effective as of late. In his last four starts, he’s allowed just three runs over 23 innings. Abel will look to keep that rolling as he finishes his season with the IronPigs.

Kerkering, a 22-year-old taken in the fifth round last year, has broken out as a bullpen piece this season. After starting the year in Low-A Clearwater, he’s risen through the ranks with successful stops in High-A Jersey Shore and Reading, and his Triple-A debut on the way. Kerkering has utilized his electric reportore to post a 1.54 ERA with 13.3 strikeouts per nine in 48 appearances across three levels.

Triple-A will provide the right-hander with an opportunity to continue his excellent first full professional season, while also serving as a bit of a showcase for a potential major-league opportunity — whether that is at the end of this year or next year. If he is able to tackle another promotion and another challenge, the thought of Kerkering being promoted to the big leagues if some sort of injury occurs in the Phillies bullpen is not that far-fetched.

For all four players, the move by the organization will allow them to continue pitching for at least another series as the IronPigs regular season comes to a close on Sunday, Sept. 24, against Worcester at Allentown’s Coca-Cola Park.