The Phillies announced that right-handers Mark Appel and Alberto Tirado have been outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after clearing waivers. The pair was designated for assignment last week as Philadelphia set its roster in advance of the Rule 5 Draft.
Now 26 years of age, Appel was the top overall pick in the 2013 draft by Houston, who surprised some a year prior by passing over Appel and taking Carlos Correa with the first overall pick in 2012. (Appel did not sign in 2012 after being selected eighth overall and returned to the ’13 draft).
Appel went from Houston to Philadelphia in the Ken Giles trade and has struggled with the Phils as much or more than he did with the Astros. In 188 2/3 career innings of Triple-A work, Appel has pitched to a 4.82 ERA with 7.4 K/9 against 4.8 BB/9, battling shoulder and elbow troubles along the way.
As for Tirado, the 22-year-old ranked as high as eighth in the Blue Jays’ system during his prospect tenure, per Baseball America. The Phillies picked him up in the 2015 trade that sent Ben Revere to Toronto, but he’s largely stalled out at the Class-A Advanced level. Tirado was showing promise at that level, albeit with extreme control issues, in 2015 when the Jays traded him. He’s repeated the level twice now without significantly better results, however. While he did make his Double-A debut this past season, the bulk of Tirado’s year was spent at Class-A Advanced, where he logged a 3.69 ERA with 8.2 K/9 against 5.4 BB/9 in 63 1/3 innings of relief.
Really no one wanted to take a chance and burn a roster spot on the former 1st overall pick?
I understand teams that have full 40 man rosters not doing it but teams that have spots is perplexing. Teams often claim a player and then waive him when the next interesting player comes along, because if the player clears waivers they can keep him.
Agreed. Kind of surprised Hahn didn’t claim him and let Coop try to work a little magic.
I saw him in A ball…he could only fool that level with the looping curve about 4 innings. The other pro scouts there were pretty much in agreement he didn’t have much of a future professionally. He was lights out in college…just one of those guys who hasnt had the stuff to adjust….the general feeling was he wasn’t the most coachable as well. Tons of great college pitchers dont make it. If a guy isnt getting a shot…theres typically a reason.
Not when you were drafted over four years ago. That’s an very long time in pro sports.
4 years is not nearly as long in baseball as other professional sports though. I remember when the Pirates traded prospect “dud” Jose Bautista at age 27.
Appel just needs a shift to the bullpen. If Joe Blanton can go from being a joke of a starter to one of the game’s best relievers then by George Appel can do it too.
I think Appel is keeping himself from the bullpen. He had a bullpen arm right out of college. But perhaps not…when he loses feel he gets lit in a hurry. Maybe he has a Hochevar career path in him…but im not for sure he’s interested.
4 years is nothing
Not everyone is kris Bryant
It took rizzo a while to get going
Sometimes players don’t unlock what they can do until late… for an example the third baseman with Toronto or even Joey bats
I won’t disagree by and large players can change and have a post phemon career. But Appel really hasnt even shown phemon in professional baseball. He acted bored when I saw him. What it really reveals is that the draft…or a couple in a row….are educated guesses. Sure didnt take long for him to plummet in the eyes of professional evaluators. There was a lot of talk about his will.
Oh how Kris Bryant would have looked at 3B or LF and hitting in the middle of that loaded and young lineup, if the Astros only had picked him 1/1 instead of Appel first overall
They could have had Bryant and Benintendi in addition to everyone they currently have. That would have been just filthy
U just won the World Series. Nobody wants to hear it!!
Yes but drafting is a gamble
They needed arms and he was rated very high
Yep…you dont want to miss on an Appel. I mean the guy owned college ball.
That is true those two would give the Astros a terrific lineup but then again its already terrific. They could not have done better this year thats for sure. Every team has misses. Just look at Mike Trout. About 20 teams or so passed
Mariners had Trout on their board at #2…and Jack Z let his scouts talk him out of it…and they took Ackley. Ackley was VERY projectable….but low ceiling high floor. Trout didnt do the showcases…NJ kid…even the Angels didnt know what they really had. They took Grichuk pick before him…maybe to supress his bonus. There was some concern over his demands. Trout ended up exploding in pro ball….but he could have been Bubba Starling as well.
I believe it was to surpress the bonus if I recall
I guess the Appel fell far from the tree.
I laughed way too hard at this
Duquette usually loves the former top prospects and he missed the chance to hurt Philly a little for their rampant poaching since Mcphail was hired.
Cubs signed Brett Anderson last year for 3 million and slotted him as #5 starter but pass on Appel for league minimum? He is a cheap Theo dumpster dive for bullpen
I’d expect the Cubs to go for him now. I mean the minors are depleted. You just hired Benedict, whom I understand is great at these reclamation type projects. He must be good, because I felt like Bosio was great at those as well. At least, until his staff lost control last year! Back to Appel, he is THE ONLY guy the Cubs could NOT draft when they selected Bryant. That worked out quite well for the North siders, but one can’t help but think if they would like to have them both!?!
I’m surprised Coppy didn’t put in a claim for him
Didn’t expect Appel to clear waivers. Even if I personally think he’ll never make it to the Majors, I feel like at least one of 3o GM’s would take a flier on a former #1 overall pick making league minimum who still has two option years remaining.
If the Rays or Padres pass on you, it’s time to retire.
What would have been interesting is if he Astros took Appel no. 1 in 2012 and not 2013. Astros would not have Correa then or McCullers most likely.
But then the most likely would have Bryant. If they had Bryant then the Cubs do not. They may have Jon Gray.
But man that may have resulted in neither the Cubs or Astros winning a world series to this point.
Funny how one decision transforms so much. But it worked out well for the Cubs and Astros to date.