Prospect Mick Abel’s struggles make Phillies’ rotation questions tougher

Mick Abel has struggled this season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. (Cheryl Pursell)

Former first-round pick Mick Abel’s disappointing season in Triple-A could be costing the Phillies at the big-league level.

The No. 5 spot in the Phillies’ rotation is in question for the time being, and the lack of depth in Lehigh Valley, highlighted by Abel’s halt in development, leaves the team without a clean fit.

The Phillies had few options as both Taijuan Walker and Spencer Turnbull hit the injured list in the span of one week in late June, leaving Philadelphia’s rotation without an obvious fit for its fifth starter. The recently promoted Michael Mercado, in the major-league bullpen after standing out in a hybrid role in Triple-A, was next up.

The right-hander had a nice first start in Chicago, then unraveled against the powerful Braves lineup on Sunday. Mercado struggled to throw the ball over the plate, and Atlanta punished him with three home runs in 1 2/3 innings when he did. Perhaps he’s a bit overextended as a starter, especially against good teams. But due to a lackluster pitching staff in Triple-A, Mercado and his impressive minor-league performance got the first opportunity.

Abel, the 15th overall pick in 2020, figured to be a top choice in case the Phillies would need starting pitching help heading into the season. He’s 22 with a prospect pedigree, had a solid year in Double-A Reading last year and even reached Triple-A at the end of 2023. But the right-hander has struggled to adapt in his first full season with the IronPigs.

Over the course of the season, Abel has struggled with command and seen poor results on the mound. He has a 6.58 ERA in 64 1/3 innings across 14 starts, with his walks going up and strikeouts going down compared to previous minor-league seasons. He’s completed six innings only twice.

Due to his down season, Abel hasn’t been a primary option for a role he likely would’ve slid right into if he was throwing the ball better. That doesn’t mean he’ll never be a contributor as he still has the stuff that made him a top prospect, but the young righty probably won’t be an answer in the short term.

Instead, the Phillies will need to piece together innings while they’re without Walker and Turnbull. Mercado could still be the pitcher who gets the ball for now, but right-hander Tyler Phillips — who had a decent, yet not great, showing as a starter in Triple-A — turned heads as he struck out seven batters in his four-inning major-league debut in relief on Sunday.

None of the options are perfect at this point, but the club will have some arms to choose from. One of their most prized prospects, however, seems to not be in that mix.