Mark Appel sported a black throwback uniform and a wide smile as he stepped behind a podium at Reading’s FirstEnergy Stadium.
At a glance, it might seem odd. Former No. 1 overall draft picks aren’t supposed to be this happy about starting a season in Double-A. Not when they’re nearly 30 years old and seven years removed from their selection.
But the situation is different for Appel, the top choice in the 2013 Major League Baseball draft. This season marks the start of a new chapter in his career, a return after walking away from the sport for three whole seasons.