PHILADELPHIA -- This might be as good or better than anything Mick Abel could have ever imagined.
He woke up on Sunday morning in Philadelphia, ready to make his MLB debut against the Pirates at Citizens Bank Park. It was a moment he had wanted for years, but it was an opportunity he had needed to earn. He had his struggles along the way. He had his doubts, wondering if he would ever get to this point.
But as his car turned the corner in South Philadelphia and he saw the ballpark in the distance, it hit him.
“Today is the day,” he said. “We get to do this today.”
Here is what Abel did in a 1-0 victory over the Pirates and Paul Skenes: He pitched six scoreless innings, becoming the first Phillies pitcher to toss six-plus scoreless innings in his MLB debut since Jerad Eickhoff in 2015. He struck out nine, tying Curt Simmons (1947) for the most strikeouts in an MLB debut by a Phillies pitcher since at least 1901. He allowed five hits and no walks.
“This was my dream since I was little,” Abel said. “It’s a lot more than I could have expected. I just kind of wanted to go out there and give it my all. It was fun.”
Abel is the Phillies’ No. 8 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. He became one of only three pitchers since at least 1901 to pitch six or more scoreless innings in his MLB debut with nine-plus strikeouts and zero walks. Shota Imanaga (April 1, 2024) and Nick Kingham (April 29, 2018) are the others.
“A long time coming for him,” Bryce Harper said. “I was super excited for him.”
The Phillies selected Abel, 23, with the 15th overall pick in the 2020 Draft. He was a top 50 prospect at one point before struggling last season in Triple-A Lehigh Valley. But the Phillies placed him on the 40-man roster in the fall, confirming to Abel that the organization still believed in him.
He went 5-2 with a 2.53 ERA in eight starts this season with the IronPigs. He got promoted on Sunday because Aaron Nola went on the 15-day injured list on Friday. Taijuan Walker will take Nola’s spot in the rotation until he is ready to return, but the Phillies needed somebody to start Sunday to give Walker more time to prepare.
The Phillies told Abel their plans when they made the call. He will return to Lehigh Valley on Monday.
“If he keeps throwing the ball like that, I guarantee he’s going to be back,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said.
Abel struck out Oneil Cruz swinging on a 1-2 curveball to start the game. His second pitch of the game touched 99.0 mph, which he hit just once this season with the IronPigs.
He struck out the side in the second inning. He threw 62 of 84 pitches for strikes. His four-seam fastball averaged 97.3 mph. It averaged 95.6 mph with the IronPigs. He got 18 swings and misses. He had a season-high 17 whiffs on April 12 with the IronPigs.
“I was fired up to pitch against him today,” said Skenes, who allowed one run in an eight-inning complete game. “I’ve never met him. I think we probably played in some tournaments growing up. But I remember him being the guy in high school. The stuff’s electric from what guys were saying coming back to the dugout. The stuff’s electric. I’ll probably rewatch his start and I’ll watch his next start. Cool to pitch against him.”
Abel’s unforgettable debut temporarily dulled the sting of Phillies left-hander José Alvarado getting suspended 80 games for using a performance-enhancing substance. Alvarado is eligible to rejoin the team on Aug. 19, but he will be ineligible for the postseason.
“He was a rock down there for sure,” Phillies right-hander Jordan Romano said. “It’s a big hole to fill in the bullpen.”
Orion Kerkering, Matt Strahm and Romano pitched three scoreless innings in relief to preserve Abel’s win.
Romano struck out the side in the ninth to earn the save.
“Maybe a little added pressure,” Romano said, smiling. “You know, I was like, I’ve really got to seal this off for the kid because he pitched amazing.”
Abel celebrated with family and friends on the field after the game. He had countless text messages to answer.
He responded to one immediately.
“I texted my mom,” he said in the clubhouse. “I made sure she knew I’d be out there in 15-20 minutes. We’re all just going to try to appreciate the moment as much as possible.”