Phillies manager Rob Thomson called Mick Abel into his office Friday morning and let him know he was being optioned to triple-A Lehigh Valley. “I think he understood,” Thomson said. “And I think he’s going to go down there,

The Phillies have demoted rookie right-hander Mick Abel, who has struggled since he struck out nine in his major league debut, to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Mick Abel will head to Triple-A Lehigh Valley this week as the Phillies hope to get their No. 5 prospect back on track. Abel, who lasted just 1 2/3 innings in Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader, was optioned to Lehigh Valley prior to Friday's series opener vs.