RHP Mark Appel turned in a clean six-inning outing against the Stockton Ports on Thursday night as Lancaster posted a 5-2 win. The top overall pick in the 2013 First Year Player Draft, Appel has famously struggled this season, entering the contest with a record of 1-5 and a 10.80 ERA.
But after making what Appel called a minor mechanical adjustment, the Astros’ #2 prospect put together what has clearly been his best outing to date: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K.
All the more impressive is that it came after a brutal outing in his last start where Appel gave up seven earned runs without making it out of the second inning.
The Astros are clearly in full rebuilding mode, and the big-league club is starting to see some of that plan pay off with George Springer and Jon Singleton in the lineup. But there is a lot riding on Appel, the Stanford product who had the dreaded “can’t miss” label tied to him since early in his college career. With the ‘Stros being unable to sign 1/1 pick Brady Aiken from this year’s draft, the rebuilding plan would hit a big snag if Appel isn’t able to find his form as a pro. Thursday night’s outing may indicate the he is on track to do that.
