Top MLB Draft Pick Mark Appel To Debut for ValleyCats

Hype, excitement and the next big thing all rolled into one rarely come through the town you live in.  Well, exactly that it is happening to The Capital Region.  Mark Appel will make his debut with the Tri-City Valley Cats on July 5 at 7 p.m against the Lowell Spinners at Bruno Stadium.  

Appel was taken #1 overall by the Houston Astros in the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.  He will be the highest-drafted player to ever appear for the ValleyCats.

Many baseball scouts rave about the Stanford product, who went 10-4 with a 2.12 earned-run average during his senior year at Stanford. His 372 career strikeouts are a school record.  Size, baseball IQ, control and command and a three-pitch sequence that baffles hitters.

Appel could start more than once at Tri-City, but Astros officials also prefer that he tries multiple baseball levels in the minor leagues before his eventual debut with the big club in Houston.

Here is a full scouting report on Appel's pitches courtesy of The Bleacher Report:  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1639682-mark-appel-prospect-profile-and-full-draft-scouting-report-for-stanford-rhp.

By:  Mike Lindsley, "Mid-Day with Mike," 1-4, Yankees pre/post game host on 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio.  Follow him on Twitter at Twitter.com/MikeLSports.