Top Houston Astros prospect Mark Appel has been fast tracked in the minors since being selected No. 1 overall in the 2013 MLB draft. The 23-year-old righty was just promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi despite putting up a 9.74 ERA in high Single-A ball.
That may or may not be the issue that some current Astros have with the way Houston is treating Appel at this point. The youngster was brought to Minute Maid Park on Sunday morning in order to throw a bullpen session in front of Astros’ coaches.
And some players on the big-league club displayed a certain amount of anger over the session to writer Jose de Jesus Ortiz of Ultimate Astros.
"It's (expletive) unbelievable," an Astros player just said out of the blue about Mark Appel being allowed throw a bullpen.
— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) July 27, 2014
Let's just put it this way, folks, the fact that Appel was brought here has upset more than a few players.
— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) July 27, 2014
Another player just approached me to complain about Appel's promotion and bullpen session. Multiple expletives were dropped. Not good.
— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) July 27, 2014
Not exactly too sure what the issue was here. Appel, as a top pick just over a year ago, has a future with the Astros Major League club. Why would players go out of their way to display opposition to him throwing a mere bullpen session before a game?
Well, the answer might be relatively simple.
In a sport that prides itself on having guys pay dues, the Astros didn't help perception in clubhouse that Appel is being babied.
— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) July 27, 2014
Would players have had a different stance on Appel showing up at Minute Maid if he didn’t struggle so much at Single-A ball before being promoted to Corpus Christi? After all, the numbers are absolutely atrocious. He gave up 74 hits in 44.1 innings, while allowing well over an average of one run per inning. Overall, Appel’s WHIP was a ridiculously high 1.92.
Maybe that’s a primary reason why Astros coaches wanted to take a look at Appel. He’s considered one of the top arms in the minors. There obviously has to be some mechanical issues involved, especially for him to struggle so much in low-level Minor League ball. Why not check him out first hand?
Still, some Astros players feel that Appel has received preferential treatment from the organization. And that’s the mind-boggling aspect of this story.
Photo: Houston Chronicle