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Phillies release former 1st overall pick Appel

Vaughn Ridley / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Philadelphia Phillies released right-hander Mark Appel, the team announced Monday.

Appel tweeted Saturday that 2023 will likely be his last season in baseball.

He was the first overall pick by the Houston Astros in the 2013 draft. The Phillies acquired him as part of a seven-player deal with the Astros in 2015.

Appel struggled through injuries for years and stepped away from the game in 2018. The 31-year-old attempted a comeback in 2021 and made his big-league debut with the Phillies last June in a game against the Atlanta Braves.

(Video source: MLB.com)

Appel appeared in six games last season, posting a sparkling 1.74 ERA, 1.16 WHP, and five strikeouts across 10 1/3 innings.

The hurler was off to a rough start this spring. Appel posted an 11.12 ERA and 2.82 WHIP with five strikeouts over six appearances.

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