Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Right now, the Philadelphia Phillies are on the clock for the No. 1 pick in the 2016 June MLB draft; however, that alarm is set so far into the future that the focus right now has to be on another No. 1 pick in Mark Appel.
The Phillies’ brain trust has to figure out why Appel, the No. 1, pick in the 2013 June draft, has failed so far in a crucial role. If Phils’ closer Ken Giles was the centerpiece in the deal earlier this month going to the Houston Astros, Appel could turn could turn out to be the guy who makes it all worthwhile from the Philadelphia end.
Appel has struggled to gain traction through two-plus seasons in the minor leagues. Now 24, the former can’t-miss prospect posted a 4.37 ERA in 131.2 innings between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Fresno this past season, indicating that’s still not quite ready to make the jump.
Appel’s performance in perhaps the best college baseball league, the PAC-12, indicated he would be further along than that because he was the national pitcher of the year for Stanford in 2012. His problems do not appear injury-related, so maybe a fresh set of coaching eyes in Philadelphia will catch something mechanical to enable Appel to hit the reset button on his career. Double-A hitting should not have posed any more of a problem than the hitters who Appel routinely got out at Stanford.
Unlike Houston, which is a contender, the Phillies have time to tinker around with Appel in the minors until he can get either his head or his arm straight. One thing is certain about Appel is that if he ever gets to Philadelphia, he will have a friend. Zach Ertz, the starting tight end of the Philadelphia Eagles, was Appel’s roommate and best friend at Stanford.
If Appel ever makes it to Philadelphia, it will be because he will have pitched like the 2012 Appel and not like the one who has kicked around the minors for the past three seasons.
Mike Gibson is a MLB Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @papreps , “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
