Notes: Appel, Eflin, Thompson Re-Assigned
In a procedural move that should shock no one, the Phillies have re-assigned three of their most promising arms Mark Appel, Zack Eflin, and Jake Thompson to minor league camp. The trio combined for eight innings pitched, scattering 10 hits allowing just one earned run in the Phillies 4-2 split squad victory over the Twins.
Appel, 24, was acquired from Houston in the Ken Giles trade. The number one pick of the 2013 draft, Appel had an outside shot at cracking the rotation but it was believed the 6’5″ righty from Stanford would start the year in Lehigh Valley after posting a 10-3 record with a 4.99 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A last season.
Eflin, 21, was acquired from the Dodgers in the Jimmy Rollins trade. Eflin was a first round pick for the San Diego Padres in 2012 and posted a 3.69 ERA with a 8-6 for Reading his first stop in Double-A.
Thompson, 22, was one of the higher profile pieces acquired in the Cole Hamels trade with the Texas Rangers last July. Thompson impressed last year in Reading, posting a 5-1 record with a 1.80 ERA.
The three re-assignments come not due to performance, all three pitched well in their Spring Training appearances, but likely to get more individualized attention as minor league camps begin to take shape. These moves also begin to give hints as to who may make the Phillies rotation, although, I would wager, that may not be decided until the final week of Spring Training.
