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Philadelphia Phillies: Mark Appel’s Season is Over

By Jason Burke

Oct. 14, 2014; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Mark Appel plays for the Salt River Rafters during an Arizona Fall League game against the Surprise Saguaros at Salt River Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oct. 14, 2014; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Mark Appel plays for the Salt River Rafters during an Arizona Fall League game against the Surprise Saguaros at Salt River Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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This past offseason the Philadelphia Phillies bought low on former number one overall pick Mark Appel in the Ken Giles deal with Houston. On Wednesday, it was announced that Appel will have season-ending elbow surgery to remove a bone spur in his right elbow.

Appel started the season in Triple-A Lehigh Valley and made eight starts before being placed on the disabled list with a strained shoulder on May 27. In those starts, the right-hander went 3-3 with a 4.46 ERA in 38.1 innings pitched.

His four starts could almost be separated into two groups of four, with the first four starts in April being what the Phillies hoped they would be getting back from this trade, as Appel went 3-0 and held a 1.64 ERA. His strikeout numbers were decent as he fanned 17 in 22 innings, and he walked just five in the first three of those four starts.

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In that final April start the walks started to pile up, as he allowed four free passes on April 29 and would walk four in two of his next four starts. In that second group of four, Appel worked just 16.1 innings, working just two-thirds of an inning in his final start, and saw him give up 15 runs in those 16.1 innings, for an ERA at right about 9.00. His strikeout rate increased, getting 17, but his effectiveness slipped.

Overall, his walk rate of 4.7 in 2016 was much higher than his career mark of 3.2, and his rate in Fresno last year of 3.7. It looks like some of these walks could have been due to injury, so let’s not rush to judge too much on those last few starts.

Instead, let’s focus on those first four starts, when we know he was healthy. There wasn’t a string of four starts last season at either Double-A Corpus Christi or in Fresno that Appel allowed as little as four earned runs. He did that out of the gate with the IronPigs. If he can remain healthy, Appel, still just 25, certainly still has the tools to be an effective starter in the big leagues.

Appel should be ready for spring training in 2017, and if he can limit those walks and be effective, could be looking at a spot on the 25-man roster at some point next season. The injury could be an odd blessing in disguise for Appel, as he will miss the remainder of this season, which should push back his debut a bit as he gets his reps in next season. By the time he makes it to Philadelphia, the Phillies rotation could certainly consist of Aaron Nola, Vincent Velasquez, Jake Thompson and Jerad Eickhoff, while J.P. Crawford could also be the everyday shortstop.

Next: 5 MiLB Pitchers Ready to Make an Impact

For a player that has had expectations, and pressure, heaped on him since draft day, the timing of his now-delayed promotion could allow other heralded prospects to shine before he arrives, and limit the spotlight just enough to help him thrive.

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