Phillies Place Prospect Mark Appel on the DL with Shoulder Strain
Former first round draft pick Mark Appel has been placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Phillies Triple-A affiliate the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.
Acquired in the Ken Giles trade with the Houston Astros over the winter offseason, Mark Appel was expected to lead a highly-touted Triple-A pitching rotation with Jake Thompson and several other Phillies prospects.
Ranked as the Phillies #4 overall prospect and the #65th ranked prospect in all of baseball, Appel has dealt with lofty expectations much of his career dating back to his time at Stanford.
In eight starts with the Iron Pigs Appel is 3-3 with a 4.46 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 38 and a-third innings.
He was pulled in the first inning of his last start after giving up four runs on four hits while also allowing two walks to Toledo.
.@IronPigs moves: P Ben Lively promoted to LHV. P Mark Appel placed on DL (rt. shoulder strain). OF Cody Asche, P Mario Hollands on ML rehab
— Matt Provence (@PigsRadio) May 27, 2016
Ben Lively, who was 7-0 with Double-A Reading with a 1.87 in nine starts, will be called up to Lehigh Valley as they begin a long home-stand. The 24-year-old pitcher was acquired when the Phillies dealt veteran outfielder Marlon Byrd to the Cincinnati Reds on New Years Eve, 2014.
The right-hander is the Phillies #30th prospect with an above average fastball and curveball.
Lively will be joining many of the Phillies top prospects in Lehigh Valley, including J.P. Crawford, Nick Williams, Andrew Knapp, and the aforementioned Jake Thompson.
The starting rotation will now feature Lively, Thompson, Zach Eflin, David Buchannan, and James Russell. Alec Asher was placed on the disabled list with a calf contusion after taking a comebacker to the leg. Adam Morgan is currently in the majors, where he has struggled with his consistency on the mound.
Cody Asche and Mario Hollands will also be making rehab appearances for Lehigh Valley.
The Iron Pigs are 25-21, sitting a game out of first in the International League North.
Philadelphia is starting a road-trip in Chicago this weekend and will face the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The last time the Phillies were at Wrigley, Cole Hamels pitched a no-hitter.