It’s been a whirlwind for former top draft pick Mark Appel.
The 30-year-old right-hander finally made his long-awaited MLB debut on Wednesday night for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Appel was the No. 1 overall draft pick back in 2013, being taken by the Houston Astros, but injuries began to slow him down.
Appel was ultimately traded to the Phillies in 2015, but things didn’t go according to plan, as injuries continued to plague him.
He was designated for assignment in 2017 and quit the game in 2018.
But last year, he began a comeback journey, one that is now complete.
And in his MLB debut, he threw a scoreless inning against the Atlanta Braves.
MLB Pipeline tweeted a highlight of him picking up his first career strikeout.
It's never too late.
9 years after being drafted 1st overall, Mark Appel tosses a scoreless inning in his MLB debut for the @Phillies.
More on Appel's long journey: https://t.co/j8cFaVZhDR pic.twitter.com/72HKtqVCnd
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 30, 2022
A Dream Come True
You have to feel good for Appel.
He’s been through so much since being drafted.
People called him a bust when he began to struggle with injuries, and it certainly looked that way when he quit in 2018.
But this is a classic case of dedication and never giving up, even when the odds are stacked against you.
He always kept the door open though.
Finally, at long last, he’s had a chance to live out his dream of becoming a Major Leaguer.
The best part of the whole experience was the fact that his family was in attendance and loved every minute of it.
Appel became the oldest first overall pick in baseball history to make his MLB debut.
At 30 years old, he finally got a chance to live out his dream and complete his long road back to recovery.
This is the ultimate success story in baseball.
Hopefully more great moments follow for Appel.
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