On the Farm: Appel, Correa, Davis
During March, cchooks.com profiles select farmhands in the Houston system. Today, we look at Mark Appel, Carlos Correa and J.D. Davis.
Mark Appel
Pitcher
BORN July 15, 1991 in Houston, TX...OPENING DAY AGE 23...HEIGHT 6'5...WEIGHT 225...BATS Right...THROWS Right...RESIDES Houston, TX...SCHOOL Stanford...ACQUIRED Selected in the 1st round (1st overall pick) of the June 2013 draft
Career Highlights: 2015 - Rated the No. 2 prospect in the Astros' system by MLB.com and No. 41 in baseball.
2014 - Following an off-season appendectomy that sidelined him for much of Spring Training, broke camp with the Advanced-A Lancaster, but returned Astros' training facility following an April 23 start. In first 4 starts yielded 9 earned runs in 13.0 innings (6.23 ERA) and did not factor into a decision. Returned the JetHawks and started May 31 against Rancho Cucamonga, surrendering 10 earned runs in 1.1 innings. In his next 4 starts, held opponents to 4 runs or fewer each time out, before being hit for 7 earned runs in back-to-back starts July 10 and 16. Tossed 6.0 innings and allowed 2 runs on 5 hits July 24 at Stockton to pick up his 2nd win of the season. Promoted to Corpus Christi July 28. Made Double-A debut July 30 against San Antonio at Whataburger Field and pitched 5.0 scoreless innings, but took a no-decision. In final 6 Hooks appearances, did not allow more than 4 earned runs, highlighted by a game against Frisco August 26, when he threw 8.0 shutout frames, allowed 2 hits and struck out 10. Pitched for the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League and didn't allow run in his first 3 games, totaling 12.0 innings. Finished the fall with a 1-0 record and 2.61 ERA in 7 starts. He walked 8 and struck out 24 in 31.0 innings pitched. Prior to the season, featured prominently on MLB.com's listings of 2014 prospects: No. 25 overall, No. 6 among right-handed pitchers and No. 4 in the Houston ranks. Rated by Baseball America as possessing the best slider in the Astros system.
2013 - Opened tenure with Tri-City and made pro debut on July 5 against Lowell. Started opposite Aberdeen 5 days later and tossed 3.0 shutout innings. Fanned 5 and did not walk a batter. Debuted with Quad Cities on July 14 and held Dayton to 2 hits over 4.0 scoreless frames. Surrendered 1 earned run or less in 6 of his 8 outings as a River Bandit. Final appearance of the season came on August 25 at Burlington. Permitted 1 run in 5.0 innings as Quad Cities won 5-1 to clinch a playoff berth.
Career Notes: His $6.35 million signing bonus is the largest in Astros history. One of only 17 players to go in the 1st round of 2 June drafts. Selected by Detroit in the 15th round of the 2009 draft out of Monte Vista High School in Danville, CA. Plucked by Pittsburgh in the 1st round (8th overall) in 2012.
College Notes: Went 10-4 with a 2.12 ERA and 4 complete games as a senior at Stanford. Struck out 130 batters in 106.1 innings pitched and featured a .203 opponent's batting average. Named first team All-Pac-12 Conference. During the season, was tabbed Louisville Slugger Player of the Week and Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week on 2 occasions. Was 1 of 10 semifinalists for the National Pitcher of the Year award as selected by the College Baseball Hall of Fame…claimed the honor in 2012. A two-time Louisville Slugger first team All-American, finished his Cardinal career as the program's all-time strikeout leader. His 372 career strikeouts rank 2nd among active NCAA hurlers. The 2013 Pac-12 Baseball Scholar Athlete of the Year is 6th in Stanford history with 28 career victories. His 377.2 innings pitched place 4th.
|
YEAR |
CLUB |
W-L |
ERA |
G |
GS |
CG |
SO |
SV |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
K |
|
2013 |
Tri-City (A) |
0-0 |
3.60 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5.0 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
6 |
|
|
Quad Cities (A) |
3-1 |
3.82 |
8 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
33.0 |
30 |
16 |
14 |
9 |
27 |
|
2014 |
Lancaster (A) |
2-5 |
9.74 |
12 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
44.1 |
74 |
51 |
48 |
11 |
40 |
|
|
Corpus Christi (AA) |
1-2 |
3.69 |
7 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
39.0 |
35 |
17 |
16 |
13 |
38 |
|
|
Career Totals |
6-8 |
5.93 |
29 |
28 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
121.1 |
145 |
86 |
80 |
33 |
111 |
Carlos Correa
Infielder
BORN September 22, 1994 in Santa Isabel, PR...OPENING DAY AGE 20...HEIGHT 6'4...WEIGHT 205...BATS Right...THROWS Right...RESIDES Santa Isabel, PR...ACQUIRED Selected in the 1st round (1st overall) in the June 2012 draft
Career Highlights: 2015 - Entered the season listed as the top shortstop prospect and No. 2 overall prospect in baseball, as well as the No. 1 farmhand in the Astros' system.
2014 - Posted multi-hit games in 3 of first 4 contests (8-for-15 with 8 RBIs). Hit .356 (21-for-59) from April 14 to May 5 to lift average from .250 to .309. Recorded 5-hit game May 10 at High Desert, with a double, a run scored and 6 runs batted in. From May 21 until June 21, hit .361 (35-for-97) with 4 home runs and 24 RBIs. Named a California League Mid-Season All-Star after a first half in which he batted .329 with 5 long balls and 54 RBIs. Suffered a fractured right fibula, which ended his season, June 21 at Lake Elsinore when his spike got caught on third base as he slid in safely with a triple. At the time of his injury, ranked among full-season Class-A leaders, which includes 60 teams, in hitting (.325, 19th), runs (50, T-13th), RBIs (57, T-6th) and OPS (.926, 18th). His Cal League ranks at the same juncture: 6th in batting average, 5th in runs, 4th runs batted in, 5th in stolen bases (20) and 6th in on-base percentage (.416). Crushed right-handed pitching to the tune of a .378 average and 1.061 OPS. Collected 24 of his 28 extra-base hits against righties. Posted a .172 average against southpaws. Selected to play in the MLB All-Star Futures Game, but sat out due to injury. Listed by MLB.com as Houston's top prospect entering the season. Website also listed him as the No. 8 overall prospect in the game and No. 3 among shortstops. Prominently featured in the Astros "Best Tools" survey, posted before the season, by Baseball America: Best Hitter for Average, Best Defensive Infielder and Best Infield Arm.
2013 - Placed 2nd among Astros farmhands in batting average. Was the second-youngest player in the Midwest League at 18-years-old. A Mid- and Post-Season All-Star, led the league in OPS (.872), slotted 2nd in on-base percentage (.405), ranked 3rd in batting average, 4th in RBIs and tied for 5th in hits. Also paced MWL shortstops in fielding percentage (.973). Listed on Quad Cities' offensive leaderboard in batting average (1st), hits (1st), RBIs (1st), OPS (1st), doubles (T-1st), runs (2nd), total bases (2nd), walks (2nd), at-bats (3rd), home runs (T-3rd) and games (4th). Tabbed River Bandits Player of the Month for May and June, hitting a combined .360 with 33 runs, 12 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs and 33 RBIs in 47 games. Was 1 of 3 Astros prospects (Delino DeShields, George Springer) to play in MLB's All-Star Futures Game, held at Citi Field in New York on July 14. Entered as a late defensive replacement for the World Team but did not get an at-bat. Following the all-star break, hit .335 with 20 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs, 42 RBIs and a .910 OPS. Featured a .432 average and a 1.072 OPS in 111 at-bats against southpaws. Hit .393 with runners in scoring position and .439 with RISP and 2 outs. Batted .333 with a .900 OPS during the playoffs as Quad Cities captured the Midwest League title.
2012 - Batted .258 with 28 runs, 14 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs and 12 RBIs in 50 games between the Gulf Coast League and Greeneville. Tabbed as the GCL Astros Defensive Player of the Month for July. Hit safely in 9 of his 11 games at Greeneville. Played in 23 games for Gigantes de Carolina of the Puerto Rican Winter League.
Career Notes: Owns a .389 on-base percentage and has swiped 36 bases in 51 attempts. Became the first player from Puerto Rico to be taken 1st overall in the MLB draft. A product of the Puerto Rican Baseball Academy, declined his commitment to the University of Miami after receiving a $4.8 million signing bonus - the second-largest payout in Houston history.
|
YEAR |
CLUB |
AVG |
G |
AB |
R |
H |
2B |
3B |
HR |
RBI |
BB |
K |
SB |
|
2012 |
GCL Astros (R) |
.232 |
39 |
155 |
23 |
36 |
11 |
1 |
2 |
9 |
7 |
36 |
5 |
|
|
Greeneville (R) |
.371 |
11 |
35 |
5 |
13 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
8 |
1 |
|
2013 |
Quad Cities (A) |
.320 |
117 |
450 |
73 |
144 |
33 |
3 |
9 |
86 |
58 |
83 |
10 |
|
2014 |
Lancaster (A) |
.325 |
62 |
249 |
50 |
81 |
16 |
6 |
6 |
57 |
36 |
45 |
20 |
|
|
Career Totals |
.308 |
229 |
889 |
151 |
274 |
63 |
11 |
18 |
155 |
106 |
172 |
36 |
J.D. Davis
Third Baseman
BORN April 27, 1993 in Elk Grove, CA...OPENING DAY AGE 21...HEIGHT 6'3...WEIGHT 215...BATS Right...THROWS Right...RESIDES Elk Grove, CA...SCHOOL Cal State Fullerton...ACQUIRED Selected in the 3rd round of the June 2014 draft
Career Highlights: 2015 - Entered the season as the No. 18 prospect in the Astros' system according to MLB.com.
2014 -First pro hit was a 2-run home run June 15 against Connecticut. The homer launched a 14-game hitting streak through June 28 in which he hit .268 (15-for-56) with 2 HR and 7 RBIs. Named New York-Penn League Player of the Week for June 30-July 7 after he hit .435 (10-for-23) with 12 RBIs to raise average from .231 to .294. Posted a season-high 5-RBI night July 6 against Lowell. Promoted to Low-A Quad Cities prior to July 16 game against Fort Wayne. From July 20 to August 3, hit .465 (20-for-43), including a 4-for-5 night July 27 at Bowling Green. Notched first career 2-HR game August 31 at Burlington. Hit .266 for QC at home, compared to a .342 road batting average.
Career Notes: Selected out of Elk Grove High School by Tampa Bay in the 5th round of the 2011 draft. Was a 2-time high school All-American.
College Notes: As a junior in 2014, led CSF in hitting (.338), SLG (.523), OBP (.419) and XBH (27). Also hit 6 HR, scored 34 runs and drove in 43. On the mound, led the team with 7 saves, as he went 2-3 with a 2.66 ERA in 14 appearances. Was the only Titan to start all 58 games. Named First-Team All-Big West Conference; also selected to the John Olerud Award Watch List for the nation's top 2-way player and the Golden Spikes Award Watch List for the top player in the country. In the summer of 2013, named to the Cape Cod All-League Team and selected as the No. 12 prospect in the league by Baseball America after hitting .309 with 6 HR and 29 RBIs for the Chatham Anglers. As a sophomore in 2013, was also an all-conference selection after hitting .318-4-50. Used primarily as the designated hitter. On the mound in '13, went 1-2 with a 2.74 earned run average and 4 saves in 16 outings (3 starts). As a true freshman in 2012, appeared in 41 games and pitched in 5. At the plate hit .229 with 20 RBIs and on the bump posted a 3.52 ERA in 23.0 IP.
|
YEAR |
CLUB |
AVG |
G |
AB |
R |
H |
2B |
3B |
HR |
RBI |
BB |
K |
SB |
|
2014 |
Tri-City (A) |
.279 |
30 |
111 |
18 |
31 |
7 |
1 |
5 |
20 |
15 |
25 |
1 |
|
|
Quad Cities (A) |
.303 |
43 |
155 |
20 |
47 |
9 |
0 |
8 |
32 |
13 |
41 |
4 |
|
|
Career Totals |
.293 |
73 |
266 |
38 |
78 |
16 |
1 |
13 |
52 |
28 |
66 |
5 |