ESPN's weekly draft rundown is titled "Appel still flirting with number 1 status" and I think that's the perfect way to say it. He's kept his name in the discussion all year and that's why I think he might end up being our pick instead of some better choices. I'm still hoping for Buxton but I'm not sure it's going to happen.
Here's the highlights from the article:
"Appel, however, continues to tease scouts with big velocity and signs of improved command and offspeed stuff. The 6-foot-5, 215- pounder went seven strong innings Friday night at UCLA, allowing eight hits and an earned run. He did not walk a batter and struck out 10. For the year, Appel is 6-1 with a 2.73 ERA and 81-20 K/BB ratio in 79 innings of work."
"He's the [Gerrit] Cole of this draft," said one scouting supervisor. "You have to look down the road a little bit more than you'd like," on a college pitcher, "but the raw ability is there and he's learning to pitch this year." There are times when Appel looks the part of a No. 1 pick and others when he appears to be quite the risk in the top half of the top 10.
"Generally, clubs drafting No. 1 overall prefer to select a player with immense upside. Zunino is the No. 2 player on Law's latest top 50, but might lack the tools for superstar performances at the big-league level. It's also worth noting that a college catcher has been selected No. 1 overall just three times in the draft's 47-year history, not counting 2010 top pick Bryce Harper, who was a 17-year-old playing at a junior college."
"Louisiana State ace Kevin Gausman, who at age 21 is a draft-eligible sophomore, failed to wow scouts Friday night versus Georgia, but his final stat line is deceiving. He went six frames and yielded three runs on 10 hits -- all of the hits were singles and four were of the infield variety. Gausman whiffed nine and did not walk a batter but did battle with his command and control and needed 120 pitches to get 18 outs. Gausman is 7-1 with a 3.12 ERA and 97-20 K/BB ratio in 75 innings. He has thrown two shutouts and surrendered just one long ball, but his 10 wild pitches and a fastball that is at times true and flat could keep him out of the top five."
"Zunino, whose season numbers are still very good and versus the always-tough SEC, went hitless in four at-bats Friday but went 5-for-8 Saturday and Sunday and is now batting .335 with a .389 on-base percentage and .659 slugging percentage. Zunino has tallied 18 doubles and 12 long balls and is a likely top five pick. If he happens to slip past Seattle at No. 3, the Chicago Cubs at No. 6 might be as far as Zunino reaches."