Mark Appel, righthanded pitcher and former #1 overall pick of the 2013 MLB Draft, is taking an “indefinite break” from baseball, per a story from Bleacher Report. Appel is quoted in the story that he’s “pursuing other things, but also trying to become a healthy human.” While the “retire” word isn’t used, it certainly sounds like Appel is contemplating walking away from the game for good.
Its been a strange road for Appel, who was considered the favorite to be the #1 overall pick in the 2012 draft. But the Houston Astros passed on the Houston native and instead selected Carlos Correa, with Appel sliding all the way to #8 overall, where he was taken by Pittsburgh.