5/11/12

Profiles of the Top 22 Pitchers for the 2012 MLB Draft: Mark Appel

With the Twins having a severe need for pitching in the organization as well as six picks among the top 100, it is certain that more than one of those picks (and probably the second overall pick) will be used to draft a pitcher.  To this respect, I am presenting profiles of the top 22 pitching prospects for the 2012 MLB draft.

I will be presenting these alphabetically, and at the end I will rank them.  I will be doing about one a day and I will finish before the June 4th draft day. You can find all the profiles (in reverse alphabetical order) as they are presented here.  I will start with RJ Alvarez and end with Kyle Zimmer.  Each profile with contain a bit of background information and statistics, a mini scouting report and videos and photos.

Profile 2: Mark Appel

Profile/Stats: 


Mark Appel is a junior at Stanford University and a three-year player there.  He is from Houston, TX and went to Monte Vista High School.  He is listed at 6'6" and 200 lbs.  He throws Right handed.  He was drafted in the 15th round out of High School by the Detroit Tigers but he did not sign. Was a Two-year letterman in basketball and baseball. In his current season he started 11 games and is 7-1 (86 IP) with a 2.72 ERA, 20 BB and 85 strikeouts allowing a .226 opponent batting average.  Last summer, playing with Team USA, in 9 IP as a reliever (4 games) and an one game starter he had a 5.00 ERA striking out 11 and walking 2; in the Cape Cod league he had a 1.35 ERA, 20 IP, striking out 25 and walking 3.

Mini Scouting Report:

His fastball averages around 94-95 mph with occasional busts at 97-99 and he has excellent command.  It is a plus fastball.  His change up is a  circle change and sits around 82-83 mph and is a borderline plus pitch.  He is throwing a tight slider in the low 80s, which is a work in process and is working on a cutter that sits on the low 90s and touches up to 93 and so far has a nice side to side movement.  He is throwing from a three-quarters position and his height allows for a tight downward plane.  Mark Appel has been mentioned as one of the top picks on this draft and there are a lot written about him and most baseball fans who are following the draft know who he is. Here is a great analysis from Hardball Times, which is worth reading.  It analyzes his mechanics and discusses whether or not he should be a top pick.

Videos/Photos:

Here is a five minute scouting video from his Team USA pitching last summer:




and a 12 minute scouting video from the cape code league last sumemr:



Here is a current interview video, talking about himself:



and here is an interview last year, talking about his pitching:

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