Red-Racers Forum » to other runners.Brad Pengelly has been riding Cyl

HOUSTON -- Mark Appel received high praise from MLB commissioner Bud Selig on Wednesday when the No. 1 overall pick signed with the Houston Astros. Speaking at a MLB diversity business summit at a convention near Minute Maid Park, Selig praised Houstons rebuilding efforts. He then likened Appel, a right-handed pitcher, and Houstons 2012 No. 1 pick, shortstop Carlos Correa, to two of the franchises greatest stars, Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell. "The Astros are on their way to building the foundation that every club needs for sustained success and I believe this club has the right people in place to execute their very sound plan that is going to bring winning baseball back to the fans of Houston," Selig said. "I look forward to the day when players like Carlos Correa and a hometown pitcher Mark Appel ... will be among those who form a new core as successful as Bagwell and Biggio were for so many years." Appel, a polished and well-spoken Stanford graduate, was left speechless when told of the commissioners remarks. "Thats, uh, its very nice words that he said," he said, shaking his head. "Just hearing that comparison is pretty special, especially being a hometown Houston guy. Bagwell and Biggio were two of my favourite players and knowing that Bud Selig sees me and Carlos Correa as potentially the next Bagwell and Biggio is exciting." Terms were not disclosed but Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said it was "the most significant investment" the Astros have ever made in an amateur player. The 21-year-old Appel was 10-4 with four complete games and a 2.12 ERA this season. He had 130 strikeouts in 106.1 innings pitched and allowed opponents a .203 batting average. Appel is an Astros fan who grew up in West Houston before moving to California at the age of 12. The Astros had a chance to draft him last year but instead went with the 17-year-old Correa from Puerto Rico. Appel slid to Pittsburgh at No. 8 last year but turned down a $3.8 million offer and returned to Stanford for his senior season. Appel said when he rejected the Pirates, he wasnt thinking about potentially being drafted by Houston this season. When it happened, he could barely believe how well everything worked out. "Growing up in Houston I came to games at the Astrodome and at Minute Maid," he said. "That was the dream. It was every kids dream to play for your home team and now its a reality. Its still surreal. I dont think its sunk in." The 6-foot-4, 195-pound Appel will be a welcome addition to the hard-luck Astros with his mid-90s (mph) fastball, nasty slider and improving changeup. "Drafting and signing Mark Appel was a top priority for our organization this year," Luhnow said. "We are an organization focused on winning championships in the future and we expect Mark to be a big part of that effort." Astros amateur scouting director Mike Elias raved about Appel and believes he will be a key piece in turning around this franchise which has lost 100 games in back-to-back seasons. "This is what we believe is going to be a high-impact addition to our organization," Elias said. "He is someone who has the potential to be a front-line starting pitcher for a very long time." Luhnow said that Appel will report to Houstons spring training facility in Florida next week and that hell likely begin his professional career at short A Tri-City. He expects him to then move to Single-A Quad Cities and possibly Double-A Corpus Christi by the end of the season. He said he will be at major league camp next season, but that he wasnt sure when he could be pitching in Houston. "Its too early to speculate on timelines," Luhnow said. "We need to get him out there and get him pitching."Cheap College Basketball Jerseys . All of the scoring came in the final 20:04. 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Cheap College Football Jerseys .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks aim for their third three-game winning streak of the season when they host the struggling Edmonton Oilers in Sundays battle at the United Center.Luke Tarrant has the chance to burst back into the stakes-winning ranks aboard Cylinder Beach in the Recognition Stakes at Eagle Farm.Tarrant has been back riding for three months after serving a suspension for drug-related offences and has been working hard to rebuild his career.He has ridden 13 winners since his return with six in the metropolitan area including Top Tone at Eagle Farm on Saturday.Tarrant is no stranger to big race success with his major wins the 2014 Group Two Villiers Stakes (Rudy) and the 2015 Magic Millions 2YO Classic (Le Chef).Trainer Desleigh Forster booked Tarrant to ride Cylinder Beach in Saturdays Listed Recognition Stakes (1400m) with several of her regular riders committed to other runners.Brad Pengelly has been riding Cylinder Beach in trackwork but the gelding is likely to get the minimum 54kg, below the jockeys weight range.Forster said Tarrant had ridden a few horses for her lately and she was impressed with his attitude.I had to act quickly because Jim Byrne is expected to ride Rudy and Robbie Fradd is wanted for Frespanol, Forster saiid.dddddddddddduke can ride light and he has plenty of big race experience.Forster expects Cylinder Beach to race well despite a two-week delay to his return.The winner of the Group Three Gunsynd Stakes during the winter Cylinder Beachs original comeback run was washed out by a heavy storm at Doomben.Forster then elected not to run him in the Listed Keith Noud Quality on Saturday won by stablemate Too Good To Refuse.Cylinder Beach is working well and he is fit enough to run well at the 1400 metres in the Recognition Stakes, she said.Forster will not continue with Too Good To Refuses Brisbane campaign if she feels he is harshly treated by handicappers.Too Good To Refuse could rise by as much as 10 points from his current 84 rating for his Keith Noud win.He isnt a big horse and if I think he is being harshly treated at the weights I will have no hesitation to switch his campaign to Sydney. There are plenty of races there for him, Forster said. ' ' '