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 and returned Taijuan Walker to the rotation.

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,

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.