FORMER EXPLORER PARKER MARKEL GETS THE CALL TO THE SHOW

Photo via Sioux City Explorers

MOORHEAD, MN-Former Sioux City Explorer’s RHP Parker Markel was called up from AAA Tacoma to the Seattle Mariners’ major league roster Sunday, May 12. Markel will take the place of RHP Felix Hernandez who was placed on the 10 Day IL and will become the 27th former American Association player to make an MLB roster.

Markel earned the call after giving up just one run in 17.1 innings of relief work in AAA and AA this season. The Twenty Eight Year Old spent all of 2018 with the Explorers, going 1-1 with a 4.14. ERA over 37 relief appearances and 41.1 innings of work.

Markel was originally drafted in 2009 by the Detroit Tigers in the 32nd round of the MLB Draft out of Mountain Ridge HS in Glendale, AZ, but he chose not to sign. Markel began his professional career the following year after being drafted in the 39th round of the MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays. The Crafty Reliever spent seven seasons in the Rays’ minor league system before signing with Sioux City in 2018. Seattle purchased Markel’s contract on September 24, 2018. He is now one of 10 former American Association players currently in Major League Baseball.