The Houston Astros have signed 2013 MLB Draft No.1 overall pick Mark Appel. Appel is a right-handed pitcher who opted to return for his senior season with Stanford after being drafted No. 8 overall last year by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The terms of the agreement were not announced during Wednesday's news conference featuring Appel.
Appel, 21, was 10-4 last season pitching four complete games and recording a 2.12 ERA. He totaled 130 strikeouts while throwing 106 1/3 innings and allowed a .203 opposing batting average.
The Houston-born Appel moved to California at the age of 12, but claims he never lost his allegiance to the Astros.
"I talked to him and told him 'Welcome home,'" Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said on draft night. "It's a kid's dream to go first in the country, first in the draft and to be taken by your hometown team. It just doesn't get any better than that. It's also really a great opportunity for us."
Last season, the Astros drew criticism from fans for passing on the hometown hero for 17-year-old shortstop Carlos Correa from Puerto Rico. Now, the franchise will have both players in their farm system.
Houston has owned the No. 1 pick during the past two amateur drafts. They currently hold a 27-45 overall record in 2013 and are in last place in the American League West.
Houston is currently 15.5 games behind the first-place Oakland Athletics. Only the Miami Marlins hold a worse record than the Astros this season
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