Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Mick Abel made his major league debut on Sunday, outdueling Paul Skenes in a 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 23-year-old right-hander struck out nine batters over six innings, tying a franchise record for most strikeouts in a debut.
Abel allowed just five hits and walked none, throwing 62 of 84 pitches for strikes. His performance was marked by strong first-pitch strikes, which catcher Rafael Marchan noted allowed him to attack hitters effectively.
After struggling last year with a 6.46 ERA, Abel has improved significantly this season, posting a 2.53 ERA in eight minor league starts. He credited his success to redefining his concept of success and focusing on improving one percent each day.
The Phillies plan to send Abel back to the minors, but manager Rob Thomson expressed confidence in the young pitcher’s abilities, saying he will be back in the starting rotation soon. Skenes pitched a complete game, but his team has struggled lately despite a 2.44 ERA this season.
Source: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45212042/phillies-mick-abel-outduels-paul-skenes-9-k-debut