The Twins announced this morning that they have designated the rookie right-hander Mick Abel on the 15-day injured list due to inflammation in his right elbow. A corresponding move has not been announced, although it has been reported Kendry Rojas joins the big league roster tomorrow along with that top prospect Connor Prielipp you are included in a large group of taxis. Abel’s IL placement is definitely related to that upcoming move (a yet to be officially announced team). Gemini will take advantage of today’s unemployment opportunity by moving to the right Simeon Woods Richardsonwhich was supposed to begin Wednesday, to begin in Abel’s place tomorrow, according to Betsy Helfand of St. Paul Pioneer Press.
He was selected by the Phillies with the No. 1 pick in the draft. 15 overall in 2020, Abel has long been touted as a quality pitching prospect. He moved from Philadelphia to Minnesota on the sidelines of participation Eduardo Tait at last year’s trade deadline in a deal that sends the star closer John Duran (still on the injured list) back to Philly.
Now 24-year-old Abel has seen his stock rise and fall over the years. He fell significantly out of the top 100 before the 2025 season but enjoyed a breakout year that saw him make his major league debut in Philadelphia and play well enough to be included as a key piece in one of the most notable deadline deals.
Abel had a great start in 2026. He entered camp without a guaranteed rotation spot but pitched a solid career in the Grapefruit League: 22 innings, 2.05 ERA, 32.9% strikeout rate, 4.9% walk rate. The right-hander was hit hard in his first two starts with the Twins this season but bounced back with 13 shutout innings and a 16-to-3 K/BB average over his last two seasons (against the Tigers and Red Sox, respectively). He currently sits at a 3.98 ERA, a 24.7% strikeout rate and a 10% walk rate in 20 1/3 frames. Metrics like FIP (2.79) and SIERA (3.93) agree, to varying degrees, that he has been a quality arm.
With Abel on the shelf, the Twins will have four starters locked in: Joe Ryan, Hello Bradley, Bailey Ober and Woods Richardson. Abel’s replacements on staff include Rojas, Prielipp and Zebby Matthews – the last one Abela hit earned him a spot on the Opening Day staff. Matthews, however, pitched to a 7.71 ERA in his first four turns in the Triple-A rotation. The former top-100 prospect is still only 25, but has dropped down the depth chart a bit with a rough spring and a strong start with Triple-A St. Paul. Minnesota recently recalled a 24-year-old rookie Andrew Morris and plugged him into the big league bullpen. He’s still flexible enough to start, follow the opener or work in a hybrid/piggyback role if the team sees fit.
It is not yet clear how long the twins expect Abel to be out. His IL placement will resume on April 17. If it is indeed a small flare-up of inflammation – and the Twins have not shown that there may be something serious still at play – he will be eligible to return before May 2. Presumably, the team will provide more information on Abel’s condition in the near future, although on an off-day in the calendar when reporters may be present tomorrow at the address of Derlton in the opening game of Tuesday’s series against the Mets in Queens.
