same article on Appel-
Mark Appel, the top pick in the 2013 draft, started the year at Lancaster but battled soreness as he wasn’t ready without a proper spring training. In his final start, Appel almost looked as though he was afraid he would get hurt. He was sent to the team’s facility in Florida, where he remains.
on Velasquez-
Vincent Velasquez, a 21-year-old righthander, was the Astros’ second-round pick in 2010. He has been slowed by injuries before, and were it not for a groin strain that will likely have him down for some time, he could have soon been on the way to Corpus himself. Velasquez, who has a 2.89 ERA, 33 strikeouts and nine walks in 28 innings, is also in Florida rehabbing. He suffered the injury not on the mound but during a workout, and it’s not the kind of injury that takes just a week or two to heal.
on Hader-
Hader has added velocity since he was drafted by the Orioles in the 19th round in 2012, and he has a naturally deceptive delivery.
“It’s coming across his body, it’s live, it’s hard, it’s got late life,” Linares said. “He looks like Chris Sale. If his secondary pitches develop the way we think they’re going to develop, he’s going to be something special.”
on McCullers-
Lance McCullers was another early Astros pick in the 2012 draft at No. 41 overall. The 20-year-old righthander has a devastating curveball and a fastball that’s not only mid-90s but also deceptive. Linares said McCullers’ command of that fastball is the pressing matter, and McCullers knows that.
“Some games I’ve really had it,” said McCullers, who is averaging nearly five walks per nine innings. “Other games I’ve lost it, and it’s hurt me pretty bad. It’s a process. It’s a mechanical thing, and it’s a mindset thing.”
McCullers said that even in high school he had a tendency to want to be too perfect with every pitch. To McCullers’ credit, Linares said he has never seen so many swings and misses at curveballs in the dirt.
