When the Minnesota Twins acquired Joe Ryan from the Tampa Bay Rays as part of the Nelson Cruz trade, they picked up a promising but underappreciated pitcher. Ryan’s minor league stats were impressive, yet he was blocked from advancing on a Rays pitching staff filled with veteran arms. This move proved valuable for the Twins, who saw an opportunity where the Rays saw a surplus.
Mick Abel’s Potential and Similar Path to the Majors
Now, the Twins appear ready to replicate that success with Mick Abel, a 23-year-old right-hander obtained in the Jhoan Duran trade from the Philadelphia Phillies. Like Ryan, Abel was limited in his previous organization by a crowded rotation featuring names such as Zack Wheeler, Christopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, and Ranger Suarez. Minnesota identified Abel as a talented pitcher whose development timeline could align with their future plans.
Working Toward Advancement: Abel’s Development and Strengths
Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll recently shed light on Abel’s progress.
“He’s still just 23 years old. He’s pitching at Triple-A. The biggest thing Mick has improved upon this year is improving his strike throwing, and that’s really been helpful for him to take another step.”
Abel’s arsenal is both promising and powerful. Zoll added,
“[His] fastball averages 96, has touched 99, curveball and changeup are really good swing and miss pitches for him,”
reinforcing how well his skill set fits a Twins rotation that values velocity combined with effective secondary pitches that generate strikeouts.
Abel’s performance shows tangible improvement. After repeating Triple-A in 2025, he increased his strikeout rate by 4.6 percentage points while reducing his walk rate by four. His strike percentage grew from just below 60% to 63.3%, reflecting meaningful progress in command and control. These incremental gains highlight that Abel’s adjustments are effective and moving him closer to major league readiness.
Slider Refinement and Increased Consistency
Despite positive momentum, Abel still faces refinement challenges, particularly with his slider. Zoll explained,
“I think some opportunities for us to help him refine his slider a little bit more and make that a little bit more of a weapon against righties,”
adding,
“For him, it’s really just keep getting innings under your belt and make sure you are as prepared as possible. He got a cameo of sorts at the big-league level earlier this year, and we want to make sure he can keep pushing forward developmentally to take that next step.”
Recent stats demonstrate that Abel’s slider is becoming more effective, as its average velocity has increased from 84.4 mph last season to 86.4 mph in 2025. Hitters are also swinging at it more often, with his swing rate climbing from 43.9% to 47.4%, which has helped him generate more swings and misses. Still, the Twins recognize that moving from Triple-A to the majors is a major leap, and they want Abel to feel fully acclimated before making that jump.
Why the Delay in Promotion Is Strategic, Not Performance-Related
Some fans have voiced questions about why Abel has not yet been promoted to the Twins’ major league roster. Zoll emphasized this decision involves more than just on-field performance.
“When a player is traded to a new organization, their whole world is turned upside down,”
he said.
“For all these guys, we talked about a lot of different things. How to get them acclimated into the organization. How to give them the best runway to try and take a long-term view and set them up for success for years to come.”
This approach requires patience. Zoll noted,
“If you put them right at the big-league level, they are going to feel that extra pressure to perform for their new teammates,”
adding,
“All these expectations that they may be putting on themselves. So, allow them to settle in.”
The Twins are carefully managing Abel’s transition to ensure his confidence and performance develop steadily, avoiding the pitfalls of rushing a young pitcher.
Looking Ahead: Mick Abel’s Road to Becoming a Rotation Anchor
The Twins view Abel’s trajectory as potentially mirroring Joe Ryan’s breakthrough in 2021. In the near term, Abel will continue in Triple-A, focusing on making small but impactful adjustments to propel his growth. As Zoll summarized,
“In Mick’s case, get a few more starts under his belt, see if we can help him make a few of those tweaks to really catapult him for the long-term here.”
If Abel maintains his upward trend, Minnesota could soon have another dependable starter anchored in their rotation, a player ready to seize the opportunity with both skill and maturity. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if he can become the next Joe Ryan Minnesota Twins pitcher and provide the consistency that the team seeks for years ahead.