Appel Goes No. 8, Piscotty No. 36 in MLB Draft's First Day

Stanford Has Had a Dozen First Round Picks Since 2000

	Mark Appel will get the start in the opener of the Super Regional at Florida State.

June 4, 2012

Mark Appel Career Photo Gallery | Stephen Piscotty Career Photo Gallery

STANFORD, Calif.-- College roommates are now first round selections. Stanford righthander Mark Appel was selected No. 8 by the Pirates and Stephen Piscotty went No. 36 to the Cardinals in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft on Monday. Stanford has now had 12 first round picks since 2000.

"I was just watching it on television with my family. It was fun to watch. I've heard really good things about the Cardinals," said Piscotty to pool reporters soon after the announcement. "Celebrating? "Not really. We're about to have dinner. These next few days are going to be very exciting. I had a bunch of teammates rooting for me today and I'll be rooting for them tomorrow.

It was pretty nerve-racking. But I got the sense going in that (a late first-day pick) was going to happen. I was very surprised when they called because I was talking to a couple of teams below them when they called."

Piscotty, a two-time first team All-Pac-12 pick, is batting .318 with 55 RBIs this season, after leading the Cape Code League (.349) and the 2011 Cardinal (.364) in hitting. He has started all 170 games of his Stanford career and carries a .336 average into the post-season. He is a finalist for the Olerud Award, given to college baseball's best two-way player. He is 6-2 on the mound with a 3.05 ERA.

Said MLB.com, "Piscotty has an easy swing with good bat speed, making consistent hard contact and hitting to all fields. He's shown raw power to all fields as well and with some added strength there could be more there."

Appel, a first team All-American, enters his start this weekend in the Super Regional at Florida State as the Pac-12 leader in strikeouts (127).

Former general manager Jim Bowden tweeted, @JimBowdenESPNxm "That's how you build a champ club... @Pirates got one of the best college pitchers"

On MLB Network's coverage, Dan Plesac said of Appel "He's the most polished college pitcher. He's a big kid, who throws well." Analyst John Hart said, "He's got three-plus pitches and has a special arm. It's everything you want."

From Pirates' general manager Neal Huntington "(The Draft) is an art not a science... There's an adjustment for a pitcher between the college and pro level. He certainly has the stuff to progress through the system."

Appel was unavailable to the media following the selection. stating in an email to the club, "I'm currently concentrating on winning a national championship and finishing my academic endeavors at Stanford. I will address the possibility of a professional career in due time."

So far this year the Houston native, who moved to the East Bay when he was 12, a 10-1 mark and 2.27 ERA. Appel is coming off Regional Tournament MVP honors following an 11-strikeout, four-hitter in a 9-1 win over Fresno State last Friday.

It was the eighth time this season the Cardinal righthander had struck out at least 10 in a ballgame. He is a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and Golden Spikes Award, given to college baseball's top player.

In four years previously, the Cardinal have had two first round picks in the same year-- 1990 (Mike Mussina and Stan Spencer), 1992 (Jeffrey Hammonds and Rick Helling), 2005 (John Mayberry and Jed Lowrie) and 2000 (Justin Wayne and Joe Borchard).

The draft runs from June 4-6, with all picks on the MLB Network.

Stanford First Round Baseball Selections
1970   Steve Duning (2nd)   Indians
1973   Dan Shaw (13th-supp)   Padres
1974   Bob DiPietro (2nd-supp)   Pirates
1975   Bruce Robinson (21st)   A's
1987   Jack McDowell (5th)   WSox
1988   Ed Sprague (25th)   Blue Jays
1990   Mike Mussina (20th)   Orioles
1990   Stan Spencer (35th)   Expos
1991   David McCarty (3rd)   Twins
1992   Jeffrey Hammonds (4th)   Orioles
1992   Rick Helling (22nd)   Rangers
1997   Kyle Peterson (13th)   Brewers
1998   Jeff Austin (4th)   Royals
2000   Justin Wayne (5th)   Nationals
2000   Joe Borchard (12th)   WSox
2002   Jeremy Guthrie (22nd)   Indians
2003   Carlos Quentin (29th)   DBacks
2004   Danny Putnam (36th)   A's
2005   John Mayberry (19th)   Rangers
2005    Jed Lowrie (45th)     Red Sox
2006   Greg Reynolds (2nd)   Rockies
2008   Jason Castro (10th)   Astros
2009   Drew Storen (10th)   Nationals
2011   Chris Reed (16th)   Dodgers
2012   Mark Appel (8th)       Orioles
2012   Stephen Piscotty (36th)   Cardinals