[[Sport TV==]] Live stream: Washington Nationals vs Philadelphia Phillies 07/08/2023
Appel was called up by the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday, nine years after he was drafted first overall by Houston. In between, he bounced around the minors, was traded in the 2015 deal that sent Ken Giles to the Astros — and even quit baseball for a bit. He resurfaced last year and finally joined the Phillies this weekend, although he didn’t pitch. If the 30-year-old Appel does appear in a game for Philadelphia, he’ll be the fourth No. 1 overall selection to make his major league debut this year, joining 2017′s Royce Lewis (Twins), 2019′s Adley Rutschman (Orioles) and 2020′s Spencer Torkelson (Tigers).
— Appel is one of a handful of No. 1 picks who haven’t played in the majors. Steve Chilcott, picked in 1966 by the New York Mets, and Brien Taylor, taken by the New York Yankees in 1991, had injury problems. Brady Aiken, selected in 2014 by Houston, is a more recent example. Last year’s top pick, Henry Davis, has reached Double-A in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ system. TRIVIA TIMEAppel was drafted by two other teams (and didn’t sign) before the Astros picked him first overall.
ET (Apple TV+, free trial)Friday, August 12San Diego Padres at Washington Nationals 7 p. ET (Apple TV+, free trial)Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets 7 p. ET (Apple TV+, free trial)Friday, August 19Toronto Blue Jays at New York Yankees 7 p. ET (Apple TV+, free trial)Texas Rangers at Minnesota Twins 8 p. ET (Apple TV+, free trial)Friday, August 26Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox 7 p. ET (Apple TV+, free trial)Cleveland Guardians at Seattle Mariners 10 p. ET (Apple TV+, free trial)Want to bet on MLB? See the best NJ Sports Betting sites***Here’s a recent MLB story from the Associated Press:Mark Appel is proof that even for a No. 1 draft pick, the road to the major leagues is sometimes a bumpy one.
Only one other time have four top picks made their debuts in one year. That was in 1989, when Andy Benes, Ken Griffey Jr. and Jeff King — the No. 1 pick in each of the previous three years — all began their big league careers. The other top pick to make his debut in 1989 was Ben McDonald, who had actually been drafted that same year by Baltimore. With the draft coming up next month, here are a few other notes about the history of No.
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