Entering the offseason, the Philadelphia Phillies' starting rotation could have looked a lot different in the next few years because Aaron Nola hit free agency and Zack Wheeler only had one more season under contract.
That ultimately was remedied.
Nola is back on a long-term deal and Wheeler signed a contract extension to keep the game's best one-two punches back at the top of their rotation.
The Phillies were also rumored throughout the entire offseason to be chasing another starter.
But, maybe they don't have to go outside their organization to find a potentially elite player.
MLB Pipeline tabbed Philadelphia's No. 2 overall prospect Mick Abel as the player who "stood out the most" during their Spring Breakout game against the Detroit Tigers.
Despite giving up an earned run on a homer, the 22-year-old only allowed three total hits while striking out three batters and walking no one over two innings of work.
This just adds to his impressive showing so far in Spring Training where he's appeared in two games, throwing 2 2/3 innings, and has not allowed a single hit or run, with four strikeouts and zero walks.
Abel projected to be a future starter of the Phillies when they took him in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft. So far, he's shown to be a prolific strikeout artist during his two full seasons of professional baseball, racking up 262 K's over 221 2/3 innings.
It will be interesting to see if and how Philadelphia uses their star prospect this year.
Maybe he's called up to join the rotation late in the season, or to replace another starter if there are injuries.
They could also use him out of the bullpen to give him Major League reps, but that's not something he's done in his career so far, even in the minors.
Either way, it seems like the Phillies have a future star on their hands after he's put together a great showing throughout the spring.
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