What the Phillies are getting with 1st-round pick Mick Abel

It’s no secret that the Phillies need help in their rotation behind Aaron Nola.

Mick Abel isn’t an immediate answer, but he has the makings to provide a big boost to Philadelphia’s starting staff down the road. 

The Phillies selected the 18-year-old right-hander out of Jesuit High School in Oregon with the 15th-overall pick of the 2020 MLB Draft on Wednesday night, making it the first time since 2014 that the organization took a pitcher with their first pick.

The last arm they took in the first round? Nola in 2014. 

At 6-foot-5, 190 pounds, Abel’s somewhat-lanky frame allows him to create the kind of momentum that helps create plus-stuff on his pitches.

When it comes to comparing him to recent MLB pitchers, there are a few avenues that could be taken. 

He has the stride and approach toward the plate of AJ Burnett, who carved out a 17-year career in the majors. The followthrough and whip that he puts on the pitch, however, is reminiscent of Justin Verlander — especially during the earlier portions of his career with the Detroit Tigers. 

There is also a sort of violence that comes with his delivery — along with that lanky frame — that brings a hint of Chris Sale to the mix, albeit from a right-hander’s perspective. 

Despite still being in high school, he has already developed three really good pitches: a fastball that averages between 93-95 mph — but can touch 97 — a lively slider ranging between 82-86 mph, and a curveball with 12-6 action.

At times, those two secondary pitches blend — which is something he’ll need to work on — but the foundation for a special arsenal is already there. Especially if he can develop his changeup in the Phillies’ system. 

This is a young arm that knows how to pitch, who just so happens to be a hard thrower. It’s a much better approach taken by the Phillies rather than taking a hard thrower that needs major development on his secondary stuff. 

“Our scouts were in unanimous agreement, he’s a potential future workhouse and dominating presence at the top of the rotation,” Phillies scouting director Brian Barber said (h/t Jim Salisbury, NBCS). We like everything about him.”