Mark Appel

2022 - 6 - 30

Post cover — Image courtesy of "The New York Times"

Mark Appel Makes MLB Debut Nine Years After Being No. 1 Pick (The New York Times)

After nine long years, Mark Appel, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 draft, finally made his major league debut.

Kind of changed grip on the fastball, changed the arm motion and I think early in the season I’m like, ‘shoot, I’m kind of throwing pretty hard, and the ball’s kind of moving.’” He looked like a can’t-miss prospect, and there was speculation that he could be in the majors by the end of that season. After a few days of waiting, as Philadelphia played some close games, Appel entered in the ninth inning Wednesday with the team trailing by three runs. “I came into this year knowing each day might be my last,” Appel said after Wednesday’s game. After three full seasons away from baseball, Appel started a comeback with the Phillies in 2021. Though draft picks in baseball carry more uncertainty than those in some other sports, No. 1 overall picks usually make the majors. Expected to go No. 1 in the 2012 draft, his contract demands scared some teams off and he fell to the Pittsburgh Pirates at No. 8. The team he grew up rooting for, the Houston Astros, took him with the top overall pick and gave him a $6 million signing bonus. A trade to the Phillies at the end of 2015 didn’t improve things, and he faced a severe shoulder injury in 2017. It was enough to earn him his first call-up, which came on Saturday. Totruly change baseball, he wants to own a team. It’s always worth noting when a No. 1 overall draft pick makes his major league debut.

Former No. 1 overall pick Mark Appel makes MLB debut with Phillies (sportsspectrum.com)

Almost a decade after being drafted No. 1 overall, Mark Appel pitched a scoreless inning in his MLB debut and gave all the glory to God.

“There is contentment to be had in Christ, and Christ is the one who will give me the strength to be content in the circumstance,” he said reflecting on that experience. He shared that after a poor outing in High-A, he went into the locker room as the game was still going on and started throwing baseballs at the wall to relieve stress. “And I think once I have closure, I think I’ll be really, really happy to move on.” At that point, Appel was still deciding whether he was going to participate in the 2022 season. “Now, instead of it still kind of being about me, it starts to just really be only about God and His glory.” Throughout his baseball journey, Appel has been open about his faith in Christ. He grew up in a Christian home and was baptized at age 10. But I think God reignited that spark in me, and I think when God does something like that, it can take time, but it can be hard to stop.” He threw a scoreless ninth inning for the Philadelphia Phillies in their 4-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves, giving up one hit and recording the first strikeout of his MLB career. “Literally, what’s happening right now in my life is only by the grace of God.”@Phillieshurler @markappel26has an incredible comeback story! In between were injuries, plenty of frustration and a decision to walk away from the game entirely. “Literally, what’s happening right now in my life is only by the grace of God,” he told MLB Network. “I was literally hopeless. His arrival in the big leagues did ultimately garner plenty of attention, just not for the reasons anyone thought it would.

2013 No. 1 pick Mark Appel cherishes long-awaited MLB debut (Yahoo Eurosport UK)

Nine years after being selected as the number one pick in the MLB Draft, Mark Appel finally made his major league debut. Four days after being promoted from ...

You can select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your Privacy Controls. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Click here to find out more about our partners. - Information about your device and Internet connection, including your IP address

Mark Appel's long-awaited MLB debut is one of the best moments of ... (That Balls Outta Here)

After almost a decade in the minor leagues, former first-overall draft pick Mark Appel finally made his MLB debut with the Philadelphia Phillies.

There’s grueling travel, strenuous training, and the knowledge that only a select few will reach the top, to say nothing of playing the game itself. The minor league life is hard, even for a first-overall pick who signs for millions. (We’ll ignore the fact that the Phillies were down 4-1 at the time and would go on to lose.)

Mark Appel finally makes 'surreal' MLB debut after 'biggest draft bust ... (New York Post)

Appel — the first overall pick by the Astros in the 2013 MLB Draft — at last made his MLB debut, pitching a scoreless inning in relief for the Phillies ...

But after three years away, Appel embarked on a comeback in the spring of 2021, reporting to the Phillies’ minor league spring training. I felt like there were times when I was hopeless, that this dream would never happen. My last four years in baseball have challenged my mind.” But that marked the end of his baseball-related good fortunes. I enjoy challenging my mind. Appel — the first overall pick by the Astros in the 2013 MLB Draft — at last made his MLB debut, pitching a scoreless inning in relief for the Phillies against the Braves. Appel, 30, is the oldest former No. 1 pick at the time of his MLB debut since 1965, when the draft first moved to June.

Mark Appel, former 'draft bust,' makes MLB debut at 30 years old (Washington Times)

Mark Appel, considered one of the biggest busts in MLB history, made his long-awaited major league debut on Wednesday.

He had similar struggles in 2021, but he found his stride this season. His career earned-run average in the minor leagues after five seasons was north of 5.00, causing him to take a break from the game in 2018. So yeah, I was choking back tears.” “Even if I was just trying to come back, it’s never been a straight line for me,” Appel said, per MLB.com. “Even in that whole process, I was lost. Appel didn’t play professionally for the next three years, but he returned to play in the minors with the Phillies last season. Appel struggled mightily in the minors and dealt with multiple injuries after signing a $6.35 million signing bonus for being selected No. 1 overall in the 2013 MLB Draft. Appel was traded to the Phillies in 2015.

Former No. 1 Pick Holds Back Tears After Pitching Scoreless Inning ... (OutKick)

Facing the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, Appel showed poise in his long-awaited debut, pitching the scoreless inning...

New users can lock in this offer NOW by clicking this link. New users can lock in this offer NOW by clicking this link. New users can lock in this offer NOW by clicking this link. If the bet loses, the FanDuel Sportsbook will refund you in site credit. New PointsBet Sportsbook users can make their first bets risk-free up to $2,000. In 2013, Houston Astros selected Appel with the top pick.

Mark Appel makes MLB debut with Phillies nine years after being No ... (CBS sports.com)

Appel was drafted first overall in 2013, one spot ahead of former MVP Kris Bryant, left baseball in 2018 and returned to the minors last season. This was his ...

It'll be fun to see if he can carve out a niche in the Phillies' bullpen moving forward. As can be seen in that highlight package above, it was an excellent spot hitting the low-and-away corner on his strikeout. If Appel is going to work in short relief and continues to effectively use his sinker, he doesn't need much more in his arsenal. This was his MLB debut after a long journey. He only needed 10 pitches to get through that efficient inning. He did allow a one-out single, though it was an infield, single, but otherwise got a lineout, strikeout and grounder in his scoreless inning of work.

Mark Appel: Former No. 1 pick makes MLB debut nine years after ... (CNN)

Mark Appel throws a pitch in the top of the ninth inning in a 4-1 loss against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on June 29 in Philadelphia.

Appel again opted to return to school and was eventually selected with the first pick by the Houston Astros the following year. Even after struggling, the 30-year-old was brought back by the Phillies, pitching out of the bullpen for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, notching an impressive 5-0 record, with a 1.61 ERA in 19 appearances. Selected by the Houston Astros with the No. 1 pick in the 2013 MLB Draft, Appel made his debut with the Philadelphia Phillies

MLB: Mark Appel, Astros' No. 1 pick in 2013, debuts in majors (Houston Chronicle)

Nine years after the Astros made him the top pick in the baseball draft, Mark Appel made his major league debut Wednesday night for the Phillies.

Appel, at 30 years and 349 days old, became the oldest first-overall pick to make his major league debut. "I don't know what the future holds," Appel, living in Houston, said then. That offseason, he was traded to Philadelphia in a package for closer Ken Giles.

Mark Appel

Explore the last week