Mark Appel

Grew up in Houston as an Astros fan before his family moved to California when he was 12...prior to the move, played youth ball at the Post Oak Little League in west Houston. Attended Monte Vista HS in California and went 4-0 with a 0.90 ERA in his senior season of 2009...was named the Contra Costa Times Baseball and Basketball Prep Athlete of the Year in 2009...drafted out of high school in the 15th round of the 2009 draft by Detroit, but elected to attend Stanford University. Played four highly-decorated years at Stanford, where he owns the career school record for strikeouts (372), ranks fourth in innings pitched (377.2) and sixth in wins (28)...drafted for the second time after his junior season with the eighth overall selection in the 2012 draft by Pittsburgh...elected not to sign and returned to Stanford to finish his degree in management science and engineering. Turned in an outstanding senior season, going 10-4 with four complete games and a 2.12 ERA (25ER/106.1IP)...recorded 130 strikeouts in his 106.1 innings pitched and allowed just a .203 opponent's batting average...was one of just 10 semifinalists for the National Pitcher of the Year Award as named by the College Baseball Hall of Fame. Drafted by Houston with the first overall selection in the 2013 draft and signed on June 19, 2013...signed by Astros scout Bryan Byrne. Is currently signed to a minor league contract for the 2015 season...invited to Major League Spring Training on Jan. 13, 2015.

2016

Was a non-roster invitee to Phillies spring training...Began the season with Lehigh Valley (AAA)...Started season with a 9.2-inning scoreless streak...Posted a 3-0 record with a 1.64 ERA (4 ER, 22.0 IP) in his first 4 starts of the season (4/12-29)...Went 0-3, 8.27 ERA (15 ER, 16.1 IP) over his next 4 starts before being placed on the DL on 5/27 with a right shoulder strain...Underwent surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow on 6/29 (Dr. Michael Ciccotti) and missed the remainder of the season.

2014

Made 19 combined appearances (18 starts) between Double A Corpus Christi (7g) and Class A Advanced Lancaster (12g), striking out 78 batters with 24 walks in 83.1 innings...was a non-roster invitee to Astros Major League Spring Training, but had a delay to his Spring season due to an emergency appendectomy conducted on Jan. 30...began the year with Lancaster and made 12 starts before moving up to Corpus Christi...had his best outing in the California League in his last start with Lancaster on July 24 at Stockton...went 6.0 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and no walks...had a strong seven-game (six start) showing with Corpus Christi in the Double A Texas League...went 1-2 with a 3.69 ERA (16ER/39IP), one complete game, 38 strikeouts and 13 walks...tossed the best professional start of his career on Aug. 26 vs. Frisco, going 8.0 shutout innings while striking out 10 and allowing two hits and one walk in a 1-0 victory...pitched in the Arizona Fall League following the 2014 season and led the league in innings pitched while going 1-0 with a 2.61 ERA (9ER/31IP) and 24 strikeouts...named to the All-Prospect Team after finishing tied for second in the AFL in strikeouts and eighth in WHIP (0.84)...made seven total starts for the AFL Champion Salt River Rafters...was named the No. 6 prospect in the AFL by Baseball America.

2013

Drafted by Houston with the first overall selection in the 2013 draft on June 6...signed his professional contract less than two weeks later on June 19 and reported to the Astros Extended Spring Training facility in Kissimmee...made his professional debut with Class A Short Season Tri-City on July 5 vs. Lowell (2ER/2IP) and made his second start with the club on July 9 vs. Aberdeen (0ER/3IP)...promoted to Class A Quad Cities on July 10 and joined the Astros No. 1 overall selection from the 2012 draft (SS Carlos Correa) with the River Bandits...this made the River Bandits the first team in minor league baseball history with consecutive No. 1 overall picks on the same roster...went on to make eight starts with Quad Cities from July 14-Aug. 25... gave up one earned run or less in six of his eight outings with Quad Cities, and pitched the team to a 5-1 victory on Aug. 25 at Burlington that clinched a playoff berth for the club (5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 3 SO)...combined to go 3-1 with a 3.79 ERA (16ER/38IP) in 10 minor league starts...pitched 106.1 innings at Stanford in 2013, which combined for 144.1 innings in his calendar year.