It is safe to say that everyone in the Houston Astros organization envisioned more out of Mark Appel this year.
The first overall pick of the 2013 MLB Amateur Draft recently received a cortisone shot in his right wrist. Agent Scott Boras believes the wrist injury has played a large part in Appel’s struggles this season.
Appel has a eye popping 9.57 ERA and a 1.96 WHIP in 36 2/3 innings of work this season for HIgh-A Lancaster.
“You know, when you come in to pro baseball, the first thing you’re going to learn is about regulation of speeds, and that’s a learning dynamic,” Boras added in a interview with Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle. “The fact that he can throw hard, and that he’s a huge prospect and all that kind of thing, pitchability and bringing his assets to the game are two different things. And I think it’s going to be just a matter of time before he gets that innings and experience to gauge that adjustment.”
Thus far Appel has not lived up to the $6.35 million signing bonus he was given last year. How much that has to do with his wrist injury remains to be seen.