Mark Appel throws bullpen session

Three weeks after having emergency appendectomy surgery, Mark Appel is back on the pitcher’s mound. Appel said he felt good after throwing a 22-pitch bullpen session today in Kissimmee.

The top pick in the 2013 draft, Appel is excited to be in big league camp with the Astros this spring. A native of Houston, Mark has been able to talk pitching and get tips directly from a couple of big name former Astros this week. Roger Clemens addressed the pitchers yesterday and Roy Oswalt was spotted at the Astros training facilities today.

Appel, who made ten starts in A-ball after signing last summer, is expected to spend most of the 2014 regular season at AA Corpus Christi. Depending on how his season goes, we might even see Appel in Houston this September. But for now, the 22-year old is focused on getting healthy and ready for the season. Here’s what Appel had to say today when talking with mlb.com’s Joe Morgan.

I don’t want to say an appendectomy is a good thing, but it really gave me time to just think about the things I need to accomplish at Spring Training. Laying down in bed for a couple of days just really helped me prepare myself mentally for what to expect and just the stuff that I need to do.

photo by Chris Peixoto