Philadelphia Phillies fans decry their team's "criminal" release of Mark Appel

The Philadelphia Phillies surprised everyone when they made it to the 2022 World Series. Although their campaign was ultimately unsuccessful, the team began to consider themselves a real contender.

The Phillies front office has had their hands full even before the season has started. Bryce Harper, the face of their franchise, will miss most of the 2023 season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery.

However, a more low-profile move has also been made. Pitcher Mark Appel, who has been with the Phillies since 2016, has been released by the team, and fans are not pleased about it.

"The Phillies released Mark Appel" - Matt Geib

Appel, 31, was originally selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round of the 2012 MLB Draft, but turned down their offer of a $3.8 million signing bonus to continue his studies at Stanford University in California.

At Stanford, he gained the attention of several MLB suitors after putting up 246 strikeouts in 3 NCAA seasons. When he finally wrapped up his studies, the Houston Astros approached him with an offer of $6.35 million, which Appel accepted.

However, the player would never live up to expectations. Despite spending three years in the Astros organization, he would never take the mound in a big-league game during his time there.

In December 2015, Appel was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. Although came close to cracking the lineup in Philadelphia, he would ultimately be unsuccessful in that pursuit once again.

With seemingly dim options moving forward, Mark Appel retired from baseball as a 26-year old in February 2018. However, three years later he attempted a comeback.

He made his MLB debut for the Philadelphia Phillies against the Atlanta Braves in late 2022 and finished the season with an ERA of 1.74 over 10.1 innings.

On March 20, the Philadelphia Phillies released Appel, despite inking a minor league extension with him just months earlier. Fans who never got to see too much of him seem to think that their team has made an error by letting him go.

Mark Appel is the least of the Philadelphia Phillies' concerns

Although Appel may yet have a promising future, the Phillies need proven arms. The team faces tough competition this season and will be doing everything in their power to make sure they have every single box ticked.

Unfortunately, for Mark Appel, there was no room for him.