Mark Appel

SAN DIEGO -- For Mark Appel, it has been the longest of waits. But a little more than nine years after the Astros made him the first overall pick in the ...

He said he still wanted to pitch. He pitched through elbow and shoulder pain. ,"type":"markdown","__typename":"Markdown"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-called-up-by-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.7":{"contentDate":"2022-05-18T07:32:00Z","description":"With the tying run on base, Phillies farmhand Mark Appel notches a strikeout to complete his second save for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.","duration":"00:00:21","slug":"mark-appel-registers-save","source":null,"tags":[{"type":"id","generated":true,"id":"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-called-up-by-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.7.tags.0","typename":"Tag"},{"type":"id","generated":true,"id":"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-called-up-by-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.7.tags.1","typename":"Tag"},{"type":"id","generated":true,"id":"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-called-up-by-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.7.tags.2","typename":"Tag"},{"type":"id","generated":true,"id":"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-called-up-by-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.7.tags.3","typename":"Tag"}],"templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/dsdmra8cigweav9qywj5","title":"Mark Appel registers save","type":"video","url":"/video/mark-appel-registers-save","__typename":"Video"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-called-up-by-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.7.tags.0":{"slug":"teamid-143","title":"Philadelphia Phillies","__typename":"Tag"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-called-up-by-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.7.tags.1":{"slug":"playerid-571446","title":"Mark Appel","__typename":"Tag"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-called-up-by-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.7.tags.2":{"slug":"minor-league-baseball","title":"Minor League Baseball","__typename":"Tag"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-called-up-by-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.7.tags.3":{"slug":"mlb-top-prospects","title":"MLB Top Prospects","__typename":"Tag"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-called-up-by-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.8":{"content":"Appel, 30, went 5-0 with a 1.61 ERA in 19 appearances in Triple-A, striking out 24 and walking eight in 28 innings.\n\n“I know I wouldn’t be able to be here if I hadn't been able to have a good signing bonus,” Appel said last March, referring to the $6.35 million he received from Houston. “Because going 3 1/2 years without much of a salary and doing all the rehab and investing money in your health, a lot of guys don't have that luxury.\n\n“I feel really thankful that I’m even able to be here. He had a 5.01 ERA in two seasons with Lehigh Valley. He had bone-spur surgery in 2016 and suffered from right shoulder inflammation in ’17. He continued to feel shoulder pain leading into Spring Training in ’18. And it is something that I'm doing because I love it. Appel had a 6.91 ERA in his first full season in professional baseball in 2014. \n\n","providerName":"Twitter","providerUrl":"https://twitter.com","type":"rich","width":550,"__typename":"ExternalEmbedContent"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-called-up-by-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.5":{"data":{"type":"id","generated":true,"id":"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-called-up-by-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.5.data","typename":"ExternalEmbedContent"},"type":"oembed","__typename":"ExternalEmbed"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-called-up-by-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.6":{"content":"Appel leftbaseball in January 2018, following five seasons' worth of struggles in the Minor Leagues with the Astros and Phillies. He suffered from injuries and the burdens of lofty expectations after Houston made him the first overall pick in ’13. Baseball was not fun anymore. Because it is something that I love. I don't take that for granted.”","type":"markdown","__typename":"Markdown"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-called-up-by-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.9":{"caption":null,"contextualCaption":null,"contextualAspectRatio":null,"credit":"Ken Inness/MiLB.com","format":"jpg","templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/v1656137136/mlb/megw9ifdto1mjlq7yhv8","type":"photo","__typename":"PhotoPart"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-called-up-by-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.10":{"content":"Appel had a 6.91 ERA in his first full season in professional baseball in 2014. \n","providerName":"Twitter","providerUrl":"https://twitter.com","type":"rich","width":550,"__typename":"ExternalEmbedContent"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-called-up-by-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.2":{"data":{"type":"id","generated":true,"id":"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-called-up-by-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.2.data","typename":"ExternalEmbedContent"},"type":"oembed","__typename":"ExternalEmbed"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-called-up-by-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.3":{"content":"• Nola's older brother gets the last word","type":"markdown","__typename":"Markdown"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-called-up-by-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.4":{"content":"Before Phillies interim manager Rob Thomson announced Appel’s arrival late Friday night, Appel was one of only three first-overall picks in baseball history not to make the big leagues (not including more recent picks who remain active Minor Leaguers).\n\nBrien Taylor (Yankees, 1991) and Steven Chilcott (Mets, 1966) were the others.\n\n**“**I would say that ate at me while I was playing much more than it’s ever eaten at me since then,” Appel said in March 2021. He did not want to pitch through it anymore. He is a big leaguer.

Appel, 30, was one of only three first-overall picks in baseball history not to make the big leagues aside from more recent picks.

"I went from being the first overall pick in 2013 to being called the 'Biggest Bust in MLB History' in early 2018. Today, I am on a mound again, getting to play the game I fell in love with as a little leaguer growing up in Houston," Appel said. Outside of recent picks, Appel, 30, was one of only three players taken with the first overall selection in baseball history (Brien Taylor and Steven Chilcott) to not make it to the big leagues.

Drafted in 2013 by the Astros, Mark Appel spent four years out of MLB. In 2022, he's getting his shot.

If he's able to carve out a niche for the Phillies, his journey to the big leagues could be the feel-good story of the year. At the time, the Astros cemented his status as a No. 1 bust by trading him to Philadelphia prior to the 2016. There's still a lot of work to do in that regard, but he's unquestionably on the right track. Appel has been humbled since his exit and return. In 2014, however, the wheels began to fall off. Finally, in 2013, Appel was drafted first overall by the Astros after a sterling college career. Appel's decision to return for his senior year was a controversial one. It took being drafted three times, over six years in the minors, and four years out of baseball, but Mark Appel looks like he's finally going to make his MLB debut in the near future. In 2015, he continued to look right around average in Double-A and Triple-A, but he was no longer talked about as one of the top (or even average) prospects in baseball. The Pirates reportedly offered $2.9 million, which was part of what prompted Appel to return to Stanford. Appel was technically drafted three times. This is not, however, a move to generate buzz.

As the Astros were in the midst of a years-long rebuild, they racked up a number of premium draft picks, which they were able to use to select players like ...

In 2015, between Double-A and Triple-A, his ERA came in at a middling 4.37, along with a strikeout rate of just 19.1% and walk rate of 8.9%. On the heels of that season, the Astros traded Appel and four other prospects to the Phillies for Ken Giles and Jonathan Arauz. The hurler himself took to However, Appel’s numbers seemed to slip as he reached the higher levels of the minors. In February of 2018, Appel decided to step away from baseball, opening up about his decision in a candid interview. Whenever Appel gets into a game, it will be his MLB debut, thus concluding one of the more unique journeys to the big leagues. Taking his place on the roster will be fellow righty Mark Appel.

The right-hander, drafted No. 1 by the Astros in 2013, will replace reliever Connor Brogdon, who was placed on the COVID-19 list.

“Because going 3½ years without much of a salary and doing all the rehab and investing money in your health, a lot of guys don’t have that luxury.” The Phillies acquired Appel in December 2015 in a seven-player trade for closer Ken Giles that also netted Vince Velasquez. They maintained Appel’s rights during his hiatus. Injuries and the burden of expectations of being selected first overall by the Houston Astros and signing for $6.35 million in 2013 caused him to step back from baseball in January 2018. But given his unique journey, that’s likely secondary to simply making it to the majors at long last. After a poor start and a mid-April demotion to triple A, Brogdon has allowed two runs in 15⅔ innings over his last 16 appearances for a 1.15 ERA. Today, I get to play a game I love as a Major League Baseball player.

Mark Appel is a big league ballplayer nine years after he was selected No. 1 overall in the amateur draft.

He went 10-3 with a 4.37 ERA while making a total of 25 starts at Double-A and Triple-A in 2015, and then was traded to Philadelphia in a multiplayer deal. Appel rejoined the Phillies organization before last season, and he went 3-6 with a 6.06 ERA in 23 appearances with Double-A Reading and Lehigh Valley. Appel was selected by Houston with the No. 1 pick in the 2013 draft after a standout college career at Stanford. He was an Astros fan growing up in West Houston and received a $6.35 million signing bonus from the team.

Mark Appel is a big league ballplayer nine years after he was selected No. 1 overall in the amateur draft.

He went 10-3 with a 4.37 ERA while making a total of 25 starts at double-A and triple-A in 2015, and then was traded to Philadelphia in a multi-player deal. Appel rejoined the Phillies organization before last season, and he went 3-6 with a 6.06 ERA in 23 appearances with double-A Reading and Lehigh Valley. "Completely overwhelmed.

Usually, when a guy is promoted to the majors, we don't really worry about covering it. If it is a top prospect, an Alec Bohm, the future Mick Abel/Andrew ...

People have been calling for his promotion for a while and from the looks of it, he has more than earned it too. Phillies corresponding move will be to call up Mark Appel, who has had a remarkable journey to get to his MLB debut at age 30. Usually, when a guy is promoted to the majors, we don’t really worry about covering it.

Nearly a decade after being selected No. 1 overall in the MLB draft, RHP Mark Appel will make his major league debut at 30 years old for the Philadelphia ...

The Pirates also gave him a shot, but he turned them down to return to school, along with a $3.8 million signing bonus. He avoids making history — only two No. 1 overall picks in history never got the call (Brien Taylor, Yankees, 1991, and Steven Chilcott, Mets, 1966). Appel will not be the third. Kris Bryant). He was selected (again) by the Houston Astros, where he would struggle through their minor league system for years to come. Sometimes, there’s a story that just reminds us of the power of sports and why we love them so much, even when they cause us so much stress at times. The Phillies will face the San Diego Padres this evening. The Astros tried to draft him in 2012, but he turned them down, along with a rumored $6 million signing bonus.

Oakland Athletics utilityman Tony Kemp was among those happy to see Mark Appel, the...

Today, I get to play a game I love as a Major League Baseball player.” He was 5-0 with a 1.61 ERA at Triple-A this year before the Phillies called him up. “He’s had some minor muscle issues in his neck that he’s managed,” Kotsay said. “And he was like, ‘Man, I still get to play baseball for a living.’ Those are things that you really — it’s perspective.” For him to make his debut, it’s just special that he stuck with it.” He rejoined the Phillies’ system last season, after a three-season hiatus, pitching at Double- and Triple-A.

In the history of Major League Baseball, only three first-overall picks had never made their big-league debut. On Saturday, that number will reduce to two.

It’s a door that remains shut for the overwhelming majority of minor leaguers; approximately 10% will make their debut. As the Beatles famously sang, a long and winding road led Appel to this door. He stepped away from the game after the 2017 season, but returned in 2021 to mount a comeback.

"If I got to the big leagues like today, which is crazy, that's all gravy. But if I never did, I'd still be a pretty happy guy," Appel said.

So they’re like, ‘Hey, is the roster spot worth it to give Mark a shot?’ … They signed some guys to start in Triple A, so I just kind of hit the ground running in the bullpen. “If you’re being realistic from a business perspective, the biggest cost to having me in the organization is the roster spot. “Being a former farm director and field coordinator, I always felt like the toughest time to quit was the first time,” Thomson said. And then I had some injuries and I never felt like I really had the full chance to (pitch like I could). And I think they knew that. “When you have that in the back of your mind as a general manager, as an organization, you don’t want to say …” “And you probably need to talk to the front office about why they kept me around. Organizations are capped at 180 domestic minor-league players, and the Phillies have had to release dozens of players since the end of last season. “I came in last year having worked a lot to get to that point where I can compete and go a whole season without getting hurt,” Appel said. And the injury takes time to overcome.” “I’m content, and I was content,” Appel said. Appel filled a low-leverage reliever role in the International League. “It wasn’t the expectation of others.”

SAN DIEGO -- Mark Appel waited nine years and one canceled flight to make the big leagues. He learned late Friday night in Allentown, Pa., that the Phillies ...

He was 3-6 with a 6.06 ERA in 23 appearances (15 starts) with Double-A Reading and Lehigh Valley. The Phillies brought him back for another year. “The best guess is the fact that I showed really high potential and really good stuff in college, and I had some injuries in the first couple years of pro ball,” Appel said. He was 5-0 with a 1.61 ERA in 19 appearances this season. So I've been at peace with who I am in my career. “I've been at peace with my career for a long time now, probably since 2018, when I left. I didn’t need for this to happen this year for me to feel like it was a successful year. Appel is not expected to be a savior for the Phillies’ bullpen. ,"type":"markdown","__typename":"Markdown"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-elated-after-callup-to-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.8":{"contentDate":"2022-06-25T21:06:16.544Z","description":"After being the top overall pick in 2013, battling injuries and retiring, Mark Appel is back and ready to make his big league debut","duration":"00:01:30","slug":"mark-appel-set-to-make-debut","source":null,"tags":[{"type":"id","generated":true,"id":"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-elated-after-callup-to-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.8.tags.0","typename":"Tag"},{"type":"id","generated":true,"id":"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-elated-after-callup-to-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.8.tags.1","typename":"Tag"},{"type":"id","generated":true,"id":"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-elated-after-callup-to-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.8.tags.2","typename":"Tag"},{"type":"id","generated":true,"id":"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-elated-after-callup-to-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.8.tags.3","typename":"Tag"}],"templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/bx2x1msefwoiqo6bluid","title":"Mark Appel set to make debut","type":"video","url":"/video/mark-appel-set-to-make-debut","__typename":"Video"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-elated-after-callup-to-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.8.tags.0":{"slug":"teamid-143","title":"Philadelphia Phillies","__typename":"Tag"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-elated-after-callup-to-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.8.tags.1":{"slug":"playerid-571446","title":"Mark Appel","__typename":"Tag"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-elated-after-callup-to-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.8.tags.2":{"slug":"rookies","title":"rookies","__typename":"Tag"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-elated-after-callup-to-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.8.tags.3":{"slug":"mlb-debut","title":"MLB debut","__typename":"Tag"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"mark-appel-elated-after-callup-to-phillies\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.9":{"content":"“The best guess is the fact that I showed really high potential and really good stuff in college, and I had some injuries in the first couple years of pro ball,” Appel said. Appel signed his big league contract, then entered the clubhouse, where he got hugs and greetings from Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos, Aaron Nola, Zach Eflin and others. He has worn them before, but as a Minor Leaguer in big league Spring Training.\n\nThis was a big league cap.\n\n“It fits a little bit better up here,” he said.\n\nAppel is not expected to be a savior for the Phillies’ bullpen. “You obviously have this dream of getting to the big leagues, but for me this is just like gravy,” Appel said. He was 3-6 with a 6.06 ERA in 23 appearances (15 starts) with Double-A Reading and Lehigh Valley. The Phillies brought him back for another year.

Former No. 1 overall MLB draft pick Mark Appel is expected to make his major league debut this week with the Phillies at the age of 30.

And it’s like, if I got to the big leagues like today, which is crazy, like, that’s all gravy. But if I never did, I was like, I’d still be like a pretty happy guy.” I didn’t need for this to happen this year for me to feel like it was a successful year. “You obviously have this dream of getting to the big leagues, but for me, this is just like gravy,” Appel said after arriving with the Phillies. “All the other stuff was taken care of. I made that decision knowing I may never play again. All of this is gravy.

Mark Appel is a big league ballplayer nine years after he was selected No. 1 overall in the amateur draft.

“Because going 3 1/2 years without much of a salary and doing all the rehab and investing money in your health, a lot of guys don’t have that luxury.” Because it is something that I love,” Appel said. He went 10-3 with a 4.37 ERA while making a total of 25 starts at Double-A and Triple-A in 2015, and then was traded to Philadelphia in a multiplayer deal. I was emotionally and spiritually drained.” The right-hander, who turns 31 on July 15, went 5-0 with a 1.61 ERA in 19 appearances for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. “I feel really thankful that I’m even able to be here.

Appel, once considered one of the top draft busts in history, will make his debut with the Phillies on Saturday at age 30.

The Phillies still had his contract rights, and he was assigned to their Double A squad, the Reading Fighting Phils, to begin the 2021 season. He was thought to be the top prospect in 2012, but concerns about his bonus demands led to him dropping to the Pittsburgh Pirates at No. 8. But now, the former No. 1 overall pick in 2013 is set to make his major league debut with the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday.