Abel makes Twins debut in start vs. White Sox
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CHICAGO -- The first reinforcement for the Twins’ rotation has arrived. Right-hander Mick Abel, acquired from the Phillies in the Jhoan Duran trade, joined the club in Chicago on Friday and he was officially recalled on Saturday, when he'll make the start against the White Sox. To make room for Abel on the 26-man roster, the Twins designated right-handed pitcher José Ureña.
Abel is the second-highest rated prospect the Twins received in their Trade Deadline sell-off, ranking as the organization’s No. 6 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. He made his MLB debut on May 18, making six starts for the Phillies earlier this year before being sent back down. He initially reported to Triple-A St. Paul after the trade.
After three outstanding starts for the Saints, he’s set to debut with his new organization.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. “It’s been nothing but good vibes here [since] when I first got here so I’ve been looking forward to it for a while.”
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In three starts with St. Paul, Abel pitched 15 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, striking out 23 and walking six. He’s been working on developing a sweeper, a pitch he’s toyed with some in the past but now is looking to make a bigger part of his arsenal.
“It was something I worked on with the Phillies,” he said. “Hadn’t really brought it out, just because I wasn’t too comfortable with it yet, but I kept throwing it in bullpens and that was one of the first things they mentioned to me here, is that they’d like me to throw a sweeper or just like tinker with it. And I was like ‘I’ve already got it.’ It was in the back pocket for the first couple bullpens here and then my first home start in St. Paul, I deployed it for the first time. It was only in two-strike counts, but I’m much more comfortable with it now.”
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Abel may be the first of multiple additions to the Twins’ rotation on their road trip to Chicago and Toronto. Right-hander Taj Bradley, acquired from the Rays in the Griffin Jax trade, could join the roster soon, and righty Simeon Woods Richardson seems likely to be reinstated from the injured list for a start against the Blue Jays this weekend.