2020 Draft Preview: Mick Abel (RHP)

NAME: Mick Abel
SCHOOL: Jesuit High School (Portland, OR)
POSITION: RHP
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6’5″, 190 lbs
B/T: R/R
D.O.B.: August 18, 2001
PREVIOUSLY DRAFTED: N/A

Scouting Report

Mick Abel, a right-handed pitcher and part-time first baseman, has put together a very successful prep career. He’s currently committed to Oregon State, but with Abel being one of the top prep pitching prospects in the 2020 class, it’s very likely that he will not get to campus in Corvallis. Abel was named the 2018-2019 Gatorade Player of the Year in Oregon, an award given to the top athlete in each state for their respective sports.

During that season, Abel owned a standout 1.34 ERA in 57.1 IP. He struck out 90 batters, issued a minuscule 19 walks, and allowed 33 hits as he established himself among some of the best that this country has to offer in regards to prep baseball talent. At the plate, he hit .294 with 14 RBI and posted a .490 slugging percentage, showing that he can be more than a pitcher.

Abel was also a part of the Team USA with the 2019 18U National Team. He didn’t have as much success with Team USA, but he did make only two starts for the club. In those two starts, Abel posted a 8.31 ERA with four strikeouts, four walks, allowed four runs, and gave up seven hits in 4.1 IP.

Scouting Grades

These scouting grades are from MLB Pipeline. Meyer’s grades probably fluctuate across other publications.

FASTBALL: 60
CHANGEUP: 55
SLIDER: 55
CURVEBALL: 50
CONTROL: 55
OVERALL: 55

Prospect Overview and Future Outlook

Mick Abel’s fastball clocks in around the mid-90’s and it generates a lot of sinking movement. He also throws a four seamer, which is also considered to be a plus pitch. According to Perfect Game, Abel’s fastball velocity topped out at 97 mph, which places him in the 99th percentile for his class.

His slider sits in the low-to-mid 80’s and even though it’s not graded as his best pitch, it’s still very impressive. His changeup also generates late sinking movement and it gives him another plus pitch in his arsenal.

Mick Abel, 87mph Slider and 94mph Sinker, Overlay [From the @PerfectGameUSA All American Game] @Mickabel13 pic.twitter.com/CTLirMLeUZ

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 15, 2019

The guys at MLB Pipeline mention that not only does Abel have an elite arsenal, but his makeup and maturity are equally as impressive as what he can do on the mound. Standing in at 6’5″, scouts love Abel’s frame and when you pair that with all his other abilities on and off the field, he has top of the rotation potential and an opportunity to be one of the first prep pitchers off the board on June 10.

Mock Draft Outcomes

In regards to who will be the first prep pitcher off the board in the MLB Draft, it seems like it will be a close one between Mick Abel and Jared Kelley. Abel is ranked the 11th best prospect in the class and Kelley is ranked 12th, according to MLB Pipeline. However, recent mock drafts are leaning towards Abel being the first prep pitcher to be selected.

In Jonathan Mayo’s most recent mock draft, he has Abel going 8th overall to the San Diego Padres, noting that the club is intrigued by prep players with upside. Jim Callis released his first mock draft last Wednesday, and he has Abel going to the Boston Red Sox with the 17th pick, but in this scenario Abel would still be the first prep arm selected.

Prep pitchers are always risky in the MLB Draft, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Abel fall a little bit. However, he has the arsenal and strike throwing ability that would make any organization excited to add him to their mix and his potential could be a big reason why he goes early.

Potential Fit with the White Sox

Abel would be a very intriguing option for the White Sox for a few different reasons. First, adding a young, potential top of the rotation arm to the farm system would add to the trend that started in the second round last year. The White Sox have recently begun to add young pitchers with upside to the farm system in the form of Matthew Thompson and Andrew Dalquist, and also with the unofficial addition of Norge Vera.

Adding Abel to the farm system with those other names gives the White Sox a good stable of young arms in the lower levels of the minors with plenty of time to develop. However, it will be hard for the big league club to keep all the current starting pitchers and fringe guys together, especially when they get closer to free agency. So adding someone like Abel to what’s already present in the farm gives the White Sox a solid core of guys who will be ready to take over once it gets to that point.

Will Mick Abel be available with the 11th pick, though? He’s maintained that top one or two prep pitcher status throughout his career thus far, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s gone by the time the White Sox are on the clock. If he is available and is the selection for the White Sox, Abel would join the White Sox and immediately establish himself as one of the top pitching prospects in the organization.

Photo Credit: Leon Neuschwander

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