Former No. 1 pick Mark Appel will make improbable MLB debut with Phillies at age 30

The path to the big leagues in baseball is rarely direct, but for Mark Appel, that’s an understatement.

In 2018, his career appeared to be dead in the water. He was labeled one of the biggest busts in MLB draft history, and he spent three seasons out of baseball. But now, the former No. 1 overall pick in 2013 is set to make his major league debut with the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday.

And it’s been quite the journey to get here.

Coming out of Monte Vista High School in Danville, California, the right-hander was one of the nation’s top prep pitchers. He was a 15th-round pick in 2009 by the Detroit Tigers but chose instead to enroll at Stanford. He ultimately became a First Team All-American in 2012 and was named the National Pitcher of the Year.

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. He chose not to sign and returned to Stanford for his senior season, eventually becoming the top pick for the Houston Astros the following year.

Appel saw some spring training action with the Astros and reached the Triple A level, but he ultimately was traded in 2015 to the Philadelphia Phillies.

A string of injuries kept him from making the jump to the majors, and he was designated for assignment by Philadelphia in 2017. On Feb. 1, 2018, at the age of 26, he announced that he would be stepping away from baseball, citing a lack of interest in the game and difficulties from injuries, according to MLB.com.

And for three seasons, it looked like that was where his baseball story ended. He was one of the most disappointing draft picks ever and one of just three No. 1 picks not to make the major leagues — excluding younger players who are still in the minors — per the league.

But in 2021, Appel shocked the baseball world by announcing a comeback. 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 shortly returned to the Triple A level with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

He’s been with the IronPigs since the start of the 2022 season, but after Philadelphia pitcher Connor Brogdon was placed on the COVID-19 injured list, Appel will finally get his long-awaited chance to play at the major league level, though it’s unclear when or if he will have the opportunity to take the bump.

And when he steps onto the field at Petco Park donning a Phillies jersey, it will be a moment that has been nine years in the making.