He is the Stanford standout, known for his arm, who is deemed to become a No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft.
If you think it's Andrew Luck, think again.
Danville product Mark Appel is a right-handed starting pitcher for the Cardinal. The junior has been projected by Baseball America as the top choice in this years MLB draft. If both Luck and Appel were to be chosen as suspected, it would be the first time a single college produced the No. 1 pick in both baseball and football, in the same year.
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SIGN UP HERE Its never come up in conversation, Appel said. Whenever I do see him we say hi, and we do talk. We talk about school, family; we talk about different things other than sports. Everyone sees him as this great quarterback, but hes a great guy. Thats what I like to see him as. And hopefully he sees me like that as well.
Been There, Done That
Stanford pitching coach Rusty Filter has been afforded a unique opportunity. Three years ago, he was with San Diego State and worked with Steven Strasburg, the phenom hurler who was selected with the top choice in 2009. Once again he is dealing with another high profile prospect on the mound, and potentially another No. 1.
Pitching wise theyre a lot different, Filter said of the comparison between Strasburg and Appel. Character-wise theyre very similar. While Steven was in college he was very humble; was a great teammate, pulled for everybody. Guys gave him a hard time, he gave it right back. Mark is a lot like that. They both show good leadership skills. As far as pitchers go the similarity is the velocity, theyre both on the upper end of velocity.
Filter recalled the process Strasburg went through, and noted that the pressure builds appropriately to the amount of attention he received as the draft drew closer. Appel credits his faith and religious beliefs as the best way he deals with the weight on his shoulders. His first year of Stanford was a turning-point in life, and in outlook.
You know I saw myself as somebody who loves God and I want to be called according to his purpose, Appel said. And once I realized that, freshman year, things changed. I was the worst worrier ever. I worried about what the coaches thought of me, I worried about my school. I worried what if I dont get straight As? What if I dont get anybody out? All these what ifs. And that wasnt a healthy way of thinking. After my freshman year I went out and focused on the fact Im blessed to be out here, and that this is a lot of fun.
History Needs To Wait
Appel does indeed think about what it might be like, if both he and Andrew Luck were selected first, in the same year. Although he notes the immediate future takes far more importance than the distant variety.
Stanford has so many great accolades to its name, the pitcher said. That would be cool to be part of one of those accolades. But for right now its not the most important thing. Right now my focus is on the season, and just giving our team a chance to go to Omaha.
To have two of the top talented kids in two different sports ... in one year, it doesnt surprise me at Stanford, Filter said. So many magical things have happened here, sports-wise -- with Olympians and national championships. But after watching Andrew go through what hes gone through, he handles it unbelievably. Its an incredible thing that could happen, but Mark has got a long way to go. Andrew has already finished ... hes in that position, Mark hasnt. Hes at the start of his junior season, so hes got a long way to go, to be put into that same situation.
Even still, Marks history is a good indication that he is ready to make, well ... history.
You know Mark didnt even start on his high school baseball team, so hes kind of been through the downs, Filter said. This is an upswing and it hasnt changed who he is to this point, so I think he will handle it the right way.
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