Philadelphia Phillies

Change of scenery could be key for Phillies' Appel

Published Dec. 14, 2015 11:20 p.m. ET

foxsports

Mark Appel, the former No. 1 overall draft pick in 2013, hasn't quite lived up to expectations.

Fairly or not, there's always hype for a first round draft pick (let alone first overall) and Appel had the honor of being a first-rounder twice -- he was taken with the eighth pick overall in 2012 but did not sign.

General manager Matt Klentak, however, thinks a change of scenery will benefit the Stanford product. Here's what he said regarding Appel via Philly.com:

"Expectations in this game are real and pressures in this game are real and sometimes there are good reasons for it and sometimes not. Sometimes, a change of scenery can really help players. Now we have to do our part to help him change that scenery as well. It's not a matter of just changing uniforms. We are going to have to put him in a good environment and help him do things that will have him reach his ceiling."

Appel owns a career 5.12 ERA in 54 minor league appearances across five levels.

If the Phillies are able to get him back on track, they could have a key piece to their rotation the second half of 2016.