Astros prospect Mark Appel was terrible at Single-A and then there was a weird quasi-controversy about him throwing a bullpen session in Houston, but now the former No. 1 overall pick is thriving at Double-A.
Last night Appel tossed eight innings of shutout, two-hit ball while striking out 10 and and walking one. And, according to Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow, the 23-year-old right-hander’s average fastball clocked in at 96 miles per hour.
Appel had an ugly 9.74 ERA in 12 starts at high Single-A to begin the season, but since a promotion to Double-A he’s made six starts with a 3.15 ERA and 34/10 K/BB ratio in 34 innings while allowing just one home run.
