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Phillies Reinstate Zach Eflin

By Anthony Franco | September 12, 2022 at 5:47pm CDT

The Phillies announced they’ve activated righty Zach Eflin from the 60-day injured list. To open a spot on the 40-man roster, Philadelphia recalled right-hander Mark Appel from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and placed him on the MLB 60-day IL.

Eflin returns to the active roster for the first time since June 26. The 28-year-old has been bothered by a right knee contusion, the continuation of career-long issues with the joint. He’s undergone surgery on the knee in both 2016 and ’21, and while he didn’t need to go under the knife this time around, the club no doubt factored in his injury history in determining how quickly he could ramp back up. Eflin just began a minor league rehab assignment last Friday, tossing two innings and 27 pitches in Lehigh Valley. After one game, he’s ready to jump right back to the big leagues.

The rehab stint had to be expedited by the lack of time remaining on the regular season schedule. There’s a bit more than three weeks to play, and the 78-62 Phils are battling for their first postseason appearance in over a decade. Philadelphia is 1 1/2 games up on the Padres for the National League’s second Wild Card spot, with a three-game cushion between themselves and the only viable threat to bump them out of the playoff picture entirely, the Brewers.

There wasn’t sufficient time to build Eflin back to a traditional starter’s workload, so he’ll move into the bullpen for interim skipper Rob Thomson. Philadelphia’s relief corps has been middle-of-the-pack this season. That’s a marked improvement over the past couple years, but the Phils recently lost Corey Knebel for the season. Trade deadline acquisition David Robertson, Seranthony Domínguez (himself recently activated from the injured list) and Connor Brogdon have emerged as Thomson’s top right-handed options.

Working from the bullpen is unfamiliar territory for Eflin, who has started 115 of his 120 MLB appearances. He’s been a reliable mid-rotation arm for the majority of that time, posting an ERA between 3.97 and 4.37 in each of the past five years. Eflin has been one of the game’s most consistent strike-throwers, and while he hasn’t missed many bats, he’ll be one of the steadier rotation options available on this winter’s free agent market.

Appel’s season comes to an unfortunate early close. He’s battling inflammation in his throwing elbow, according to the club’s transactions log at MLB.com, and the 60-day minimum officially closes the books on his returning this year. Appel’s most recent appearance with Lehigh Valley came on September 3, and he landed on the minor league injured list not too long thereafter.

It’s a disappointing conclusion to the year, but 2022 has to go down as a resounding success for the former first overall pick. Appel never reached the big leagues with his original organization, the Astros, and he looked as if he’d never appear at the highest level after stepping away from the game following the 2017 campaign. Appel made a comeback effort last year, and he remained in the Philadelphia system this season. Appel earned his long-awaited first promotion in mid-June, and he finishes the season with 10 1/3 innings of two-run ball in the big leagues.

Philadelphia will pay Appel at the prorated $700K MLB minimum rate for the rest of the season to temporarily remove him from the 40-man roster. The 31-year-old is in his second of three minor league option years and can continue to bounce on and off the Phils active roster next season.

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Philadelphia Phillies Transactions Mark Appel Zach Eflin

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View Comments (21)
Post a Comment

21 Comments

  1. VonPurpleHayes

    3 years ago

    Could be useful to pair with Gibson down the stretch. This rotation is banged up and exhausted.

    1
    Reply
    • ham77

      3 years ago

      Gibby, Ranger, or Thor are all viable piggyback options with him. This will hopefully allow the rotation to get a break heading into the postseason.

      Reply
      • kmk1986

        3 years ago

        Wow have fun in the post season with those names in the rotation

        Reply
    • kmk1986

      3 years ago

      Phillies need Zach wheeler to have any chance

      Reply
      • Phillls

        3 years ago

        He will have to do better than his last few starts. He is not a guaranteed win. Hopefully his arm issues are behind him

        Reply
  2. OKBaseballFan

    3 years ago

    Appel has right elbow inflammation, and he was only placed on the 7-Day IL on the 5th. I would like to see him stay around Philly. Eflin? That’ll depend on how he works as an opener/long reliever. Still want him to succeed

    1
    Reply
    • cpdpoet

      3 years ago

      Crap…ty did not see that @Appel…hope he sticks…

      Reply
  3. cpdpoet

    3 years ago

    Agreed OKBBFan…..Am not sure, but hopefully Appel has further Philly contractual obligations…I know he’s not the pitcher he was expected to be, but a live bullpen arm is always needed….Outside of his great story….Phils could use him in ’23…

    Phils have 22 games to go and if Eflin can be used in a tandem style…it will help the Phils AND his next contract…..
    Have always liked his attitude/fire…..

    1
    Reply
  4. 10centBeerNight

    3 years ago

    Is eflin a FA next year? Big opportunity to display his value and versatility here.

    Reply
    • Rsk3228

      3 years ago

      He has a mutual option I believe. He will probably be a FA because he isn’t very durable. He’s been hurt every year in recent memory.

      1
      Reply
  5. greatgame 2

    3 years ago

    Appel’s mere 10 innings with 4.4 K/9 for 2022 is a resounding success?

    Reply
    • andymeyer

      3 years ago

      From where he was, yes

      3
      Reply
    • Stan the Man

      3 years ago

      He had his best minor league performance ever this year at Lehigh Valley…and then finally made his MLB debut…so yes, it was a successful and encouraging year.

      2
      Reply
  6. BeansforJesus

    3 years ago

    Anyone else think Eflin and the Phils have a better probability than any in the past of both exercising the mutual option for 2023?

    I feel like Eflin might want to prove himself and get healthy for 2023. 1/15mil for a one year isn’t a bad and it’s not like he should see that this off-season. And Philly delays a rotation gap for this off-season.

    1
    Reply
    • Stan the Man

      3 years ago

      Always liked Eflin, but his knee problem is just too persistent to take any further risk…especially with all of the other top starters available this offseason…I believe that DD should continue to go all in with with creating a top rotation to go with the solid lineup for 2023.

      Reply
  7. positively_broad_st

    3 years ago

    Been thinking lately that going into next the Phillies should start using a six man rotation. Maybe it’ll help cut down on the bullpen issues if they could get one more inning out of their starters every time they pitch. Seems to be working for the Astros this season…

    1
    Reply
    • DarkSide830

      3 years ago

      The Astros also have 6 guys who would be better than anyone beyond our #3 and most are even better than Ranger.

      Reply
  8. longines64

    3 years ago

    Eflin is typically OK the first time through the lineup. Maybe this’ll work out for him and the team.

    1
    Reply
  9. Dumpster Divin Theo

    3 years ago

    What the Phils did what what with Zach Efron? Who knew he could dance, much less hurl a baseball.

    Reply
  10. Mughulia

    3 years ago

    Great

    Reply
  11. htbnm57

    3 years ago

    Falter seems to be pitching his way into
    next year’s rotation so this may be Elfin’s
    last go with the Phillies.

    Reply

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