Mick Abel is looking to rebound for the Twins in 2027.
Minnesota Twins right-hander Mick Abel has taken a step forward in his recovery from right elbow surgery. The 25-year-old was seen throwing off a mound Friday, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic, with Hayes noting it is a very good sign.
Minnesota finished the year with a 77-85 record and a third-place finish in the American League Central. The club was eliminated from postseason contention last week, so the focus recently has shifted toward who will be a part of the roster next year.
For Abel, Friday's mound session was another step forward after a season that ended far too soon. He opened 2026 with four appearances and three starts before going down. He went 1-2 with a 3.98 ERA, 23 strikeouts and a 1.574 WHIP over 20 1/3 innings. His strikeout rate was particularly impressive, but command remained an issue.
Abel went on the injured list on April 20 with right elbow inflammation, then returned to baseball activities before experiencing another setback during his rehab back in June.
The Twins eventually announced that Abel would undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow to clean out the joint and fix the recurring discomfort. He underwent the procedure on July 1 and fortunately imaging showed no damage to the ulnar collateral ligament or flexor tendon.
Although Abel’s season was cut short, he still showed a flash of his potential in MLB. Abel was acquired by the Twins at the 2025 trade deadline as the main prospect in a deal that sent All-Star closer Jhoan Duran to the Philadelphia Phillies. His first run with Minnesota in 2025 was a disaster. He pitched 14 innings and allowed 14 runs on 18 hits. Even though it was just 20 ⅓ innings, Abel’s 2026 season was a step in the right direction.
Abel will likely have a spot in the rotation in 2027. Minnesota's pitching staff has dealt with plenty of injuries aside from Abel and he remains one of their most promising pieces, deserving of an extended look. Joe Ryan, Taj Bradley and Pablo Lopez should still be ahead of him on the depth chart though.
The Twins also have Bailey Ober returning from injury next year, which gives Minnesota a chance to build one of the more intriguing rotations in the American League if everyone stays healthy. Abel simply needs to stay on the mound and continue developing, and Friday's session suggests he is on track to do exactly that. Minnesota intends on returning to the MLB playoffs in 2027 and Abel emerging as a reliable arm would make that path easier.
