Mark Appel, 2013 MLB No. 1 overall draft pick
Sports Spectrum Podcast
Sports Spectrum
4.9 • 684 Ratings
🗓️ 29 June 2018
⏱️ 60 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Episode 123
Mark Appel was destined for baseball greatness. The former Stanford pitcher was selected number one overall in 2013 by the Houston Astros, one pick ahead of Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs. Many thought it was just a matter of time before he would make it to the Major Leagues. But the career path of Appel didn't go as everyone expected. He never made it to the big leagues.
In February of 2018, Mark announced he was taking a "indefinite break" from the game of baseball at the age of 26.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Mark about what this first year without baseball has been like for him, why he stepped away, how Christ has helped him in his decision, the importance of mentorship in his life, and the amazing story of how he destroyed a panel wall inside a minor league dugout and how that night changed his outlook and perspective with God.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Sports Spectrum podcast where faith and sports |
| 0:14.9 | collide. |
| 0:16.0 | Here's your host, Jason Romano. |
| 0:18.4 | Episode number 123 of the Sports Spectrum podcast with former Major League Baseball |
| 0:24.3 | number one overall draft pick Mark Appel is sponsored in part by Compassion International. |
| 0:30.4 | Go to compassion.com slash sports spectrum. |
| 0:33.1 | Sponsor a child today, $38 a month. |
| 0:36.3 | I promise you, you will not regret it. The best $38 a month, I promise you. |
| 0:38.5 | You will not regret it. |
| 0:41.2 | The best $38 you'll spend every month. |
| 0:49.3 | Compassion sponsors like you and me are helping over 1.8 million children in 25 countries, |
| 0:57.0 | and yet it's never larger than one child at a time, one day at a time, one sponsor at a time. Make a difference. Bring hope and a future to a child by sponsoring with compassion. |
| 1:02.5 | Go to compassion.com slash sports spectrum. |
| 1:05.4 | Sponsor a child today. |
| 1:07.6 | Today's guest on the podcast is Mark Appel. |
| 1:10.4 | Now Mark, former number one overall draft pick by the Houston Astros back in 2013, played his college ball at Stanford, 2012, Pac-12 scholar athlete of the year, NCAA national pitcher of the year. |
| 1:25.5 | Graduated early after three years and two quarters with a degree in |
| 1:30.0 | management, science, and engineering. And he was selected by the Astros in 2013. The year before, |
| 1:36.4 | he was selected by the Pirates number eight overall in 2012. But he turned down that opportunity |
| 1:41.7 | and a very large signing bonus, almost $4 million, to return to |
| 1:45.8 | Stanford. And then the following year was selected by his hometown Houston Astros in 2013. |
| 1:54.0 | Mark's career is an interesting one because he never made it to the major leagues. |
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