The Philadelphia Phillies have not made any major transactions since Dave Dombrowski joined the team. Adding Brandon Marsh at the 2022 trade deadline was a big deal, and Logan O’Hoppe was a great prospect, but the deadlines since haven’t resulted in any major moves.
That all changed in 2025, when the Phillies and Minnesota Twins traded for Jhoan Duran. He quickly became the Phillies’ closer and has since excelled in that capacity. To make the deal, the Phillies had to give up Mick Abel and Eduardo Tait, two top-10 prospects.
The Phillies will face the Twins in their season finale on Saturday, with Abel taking the mound. Mick Abel discussed what it will be like to play his former team when he returns to Philadelphia.
Ty Daubert of Phillies Nation highlighted Abel’s remarks about returning to Philadelphia to face his former team. For Abel, who was moved at the trade deadline, the matchup represents a meaningful milestone.
“It’ll be special,” Abel said. “This place is special because it’s where I started my career and was able to leave an impression. I’m really excited for it.”
Abel certainly left his mark when he broke into the Majors with the Phillies. After a rough 2024 in Triple-A, where he posted a 6.46 ERA, he rebounded with one of the most memorable debuts in franchise history. Facing Pirates ace and Cy Young favorite Paul Skenes, Abel went six innings, striking out nine, giving up five hits, and issuing no walks to earn his first big league win.
Though he later struggled and ended his Phillies stint with a 5.04 ERA over six starts, his work both in the minors and majors was enough to help Philadelphia land Jhoan Duran from the Twins—a trade that has paid off for the club.
In Minnesota, Abel has had a rocky start, carrying a 14.63 ERA over eight innings across three outings. Still, at 24 years old, he has plenty of upside and has already proven he can rebound after a tough stretch.
Drafted and developed by the Phillies, Abel’s path to the big leagues was far from easy, but his time in the organization helped him realize his dream of pitching in MLB. Now, with the Phillies still holding a special place in his heart, Abel is back in Philadelphia. In the second-to-last game of the 2025 season, he’ll take the mound against his former team, closing a year that began with a remarkable debut and marked the true start of his Major League career.