Astros strike deal with No. 1 pick Appel

Jun 19, 2013 - 6:19 PM Houston, TX (Sports Network) - The Houston Astros announced that they will officially sign pitcher Mark Appel, the top overall pick in the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft, to a contract during a Wednesday afternoon press conference.

The Astros also owned the top pick last year and passed on Appel, who was selected by Pittsburgh with the No. 8 pick. The right-hander returned to Stanford after failing to come to terms with the Pirates.

Appel, 21, went 10-4 with four complete games and a 2.12 ERA as a senior this season at Stanford. He compiled 130 strikeouts in 106 1/3 innings and held opposing hitters to a .203 batting average.

"Drafting and signing Mark Appel was a top priority for our organization this year," Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said in a statement. "We are an organization focused on winning championships in the future and we expect Mark to be a big part of that effort."

Appel, a Houston native, is Stanford's all-time strikeout leader with 372.