Mark Abell, the 2013 No. 1 seed whose baseball career has included a three-season absence from the sport, earned his first major league call-up on Saturday at the age of 30.
Philadelphia Phillies Apple brought the right hand from Triple A Lehigh Valley because he is loyal Conor Brogdon Interim Director Rob Thompson told reporters Friday evening that he is on the list of those infected with the COVID-19 virus.
“Totally overwhelmed. I have so many thoughts I want to share but can’t find the words, so I’ll just say this: I’m grateful”, chirp Saturday morning. “Today, I’m playing a game that I love as a Major League Baseball player.”
Abel has spent the past two seasons promoting Double- and Triple-A for the Phillies. He has a 5-0 and 1.61 ERA record in 19 games with Lehigh Valley this season.
He returned to the Phillies in 2021 after announcing in February 2018 that he was staying away from baseball after injuries to the labrum and rotator cuff that eventually required surgery.
One of the most decorated pitchers in NCAA history, the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Abell 8th overall in 2012, but returned to Stanford in his first season and picked the Houston Astros first in 2013, ahead of one place. Chris Bryant. Appel joined the Phillies when he was included in the December 2015 trade that approached Ken Giles to Houston.
On Saturday, the Phillies play the third game in a four-game series against the San Diego Padres after splitting the first two games.
Information from ESPN’s David Schoenefeld was used in this report.
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