It’s easy to forget that Mick Abel is just 23 years old. It feels like forever since fans have heard about him being a top prospect and a fit for a large role out of the Phillies rotation.

Since reaching Triple-A, Abel has seemingly stalled after struggles in 2024 and an inconsistent start to the 2025 season with Lehigh Valley.

That inconsistency is exactly what has been Abel’s issue, and what he continues to work on before he is given a chance to take the next step.

In Abel’s first start of the season, he allowed four earned runs in five innings of work and then came out against Rochester and threw six shutout innings. In his last start Saturday at Coca-Cola Park, Abel allowed three earned runs and lasted just four innings needing 94 pitches.

“In that second outing, I had time to just go through my preparation, go through my process and visualize what I wanted to do,” said Abel of the difference between start one and start two. “I went out there and executed, and was just calm and had a good outing.”

Former IronPigs manager Dave Brundage always talked about high value prospects needing to struggle. He made the point that many of those players never had to struggle as they went through high school, college, and the lower levels of the minors. That philosophy is something that Abel found rings true, at least for him.

“I never really struggled like I did last season (3-12, 6.94). I was always one of the best pitchers in the area in high school and things went really well for me in the lower levels,” said Abel.

“Last season was definitely a learning process, and it did teach me how to react to those struggles. That was all new to me, but what I discovered was that what I have to do doesn’t change; I have to throw strikes, I have to keep the ball down, stay relaxed, and I have to just execute my pitches.”

Just a theory, but perhaps Abel is putting a little more pressure on himself with just one step left until he reaches the majors. In his time with Lehigh Valley, which encompasses 28 starts, there is an interesting dynamic among his splits. He has made exactly 14 starts at home and 14 on the road with 65 2/3 innings of work at home compared to 63 2/3 on the road in those starts. That’s where the numbers start to diverge a little.

Even with the even workload, Abel has allowed 18 more hits at home and 17 more earned runs. His walks are steady, but he has nine less strikeouts at home. Opponents are hitting .303 against Abel at home and .255 on the road. All of the numbers result in a 7.13 ERA at home and a 4.95 road ERA.

One theory is that he puts a little more pressure on himself pitching in front of the home crowd, but even his road ERA is worrisome. Generally, it probably just comes down to finding consistency and, like many prospects, needing more time to adjust to the highest level of the minor leagues.

“I generally don’t feel much pressure no matter where I pitch or what the situation is,” noted Abel. “I have kind of changed my philosophy a little to where I consider it a privilege to pitch at this level and it’s something that not a lot of people get to experience. I have also redefined what success means to me.

“I just consider executing my pitches and getting ahead of hitters to be success for me. Sometimes, a hitter is going to beat you, but if you’re throwing your best stuff and he gets on, you can’t get down on yourself. You just have to keep executing and doing what has worked to get you to this level.”

STREAKS … The IronPigs saw their eight-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday when they lost to Syracuse at home. The streak propelled the team to a 10-2 record, tying the best start in franchise history. Gabriel Rincones Jr. had a 12 game on-base streak snapped on Sunday.

THE NEXT 12 … The IronPigs play their next six games on the road in Gwinnett and return home on April 22 against the Columbus Clippers, who are managed by IronPigs fan favorite Andy Tracy.