PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies are mixing things up on their pitching front, and there's a buzz surrounding how this shake-up might play out. Manager Rob Thomson has announced that Taijuan Walker will be moving to the bullpen, opening up a spot in the starting rotation for right-hander Mick Abel.
Thomson laid out the Phillies' pitching lineup for their upcoming battle north of the border against the Toronto Blue Jays. The rotation will feature Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez, and the new addition, Mick Abel. Walker, who’s shown his versatility time and again, will be available out of the bullpen whenever the team calls upon him.
The Phillies and Blue Jays square off for a three-game series starting Tuesday, with Abel set to take the mound for the series finale on Thursday at the Rogers Center. Unlike his previous brief stint with the big league club, Abel’s presence this time around comes with the possibility of a more extended run. It all hinges on a couple of variables: Aaron Nola's recovery from a right ankle sprain and how well Abel capitalizes on this opportunity.
Abel's major league debut was nothing short of eye-catching; he punched out nine batters over six scoreless innings against the Pirates at Citizens Bank Park. After that impressive start, he headed back to Triple-A Lehigh Valley for additional seasoning.
His performance there has been solid, to say the least. In two starts, the 23-year-old right-hander allowed just one earned run over ten-plus innings.
Thomson was particularly impressed, noting that Abel maintained his form and composure, which isn’t always the case for young pitchers who shuffle between the majors and minors.
“I was very impressed,” Thomson mentioned. “A lot of times, young pitchers lose a bit of their edge when going back down, but Abel showed remarkable consistency and kept his momentum.”
Before Abel officially reclaims his spot on the Phillies’ roster for Thursday, the team will need to make a roster adjustment. While the specifics of that move remain undecided, the Phillies have already made other changes.
On Sunday morning, they designated reliever José Ruiz for assignment and brought in right-hander Seth Johnson. Johnson, recently transitioned to a bullpen role in Lehigh Valley, adds a fresh arm to Philadelphia’s bullpen, which has been working double-time lately.
As the Phillies navigate through these roster changes, fans can rest assured that every move is part of a broader strategy to bolster their pitching depth. Keep an eye on how these decisions impact the upcoming series in Toronto and how Abel fares in what could be a defining moment for the young pitcher.
