Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
The Philadelphia Phillies released former No. 1 overall draft pick Mark Appel on Monday.
The 31-year-old right-hander finally reached the big leagues in 2022 following seven seasons in the minors and three years out of baseball.
Appel made his major league debut last June 29 and appeared in six games out of the Philadelphia bullpen, posting no decisions with a 1.74 ERA and five strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings.
The Houston Astros made Appel the top pick in the 2013 draft out of Stanford. Houston traded him to the Phillies in December 2015. Appel stepped away from the sport in 2018 after injuries to his labrum and rotator cuff, then made a comeback in 2021.
He has compiled a 33-24 record with a 5.05 ERA in 135 games (93 starts) in the minors, striking out 411 batters in 486 2/3 innings.
–Field Level Media