Mark Appel

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Possessing the 17th overall pick in the June 6 amateur draft may influence the White Sox to select the best player available instead of addressing a specific need, such as a middle infielder. "At that point, you have to go for...

As they did with Starlin Castro a year ago, the Cubs have moved quickly to lock up first baseman Anthony Rizzo to a long-term contract, giving them a chance to build a team around him into the next decade. Rizzo, 23, has agreed to a seven-year, $41...

Talking baseball while congratulating the Boston Bruins on one of the great playoff finishes of all time: 1. In less than two years with the Cubs’ organization, Anthony Rizzo has earned himself a $41 million guarantee, which he says guarantees...

Friday night showed why it’s so tough to evaluate the performances of college players. Kris Bryant, the University of San Diego third baseman, hit his 26th home run in his 50th game, playing against second-tier competition. Sean Manaea, the Indiana...

While an organizational pitching shortage suggests the Cubs will use the No. 2 overall pick in next month's draft on the most developed arm they can get, President Theo Epstein consistently has said they will consider hitters as well. Kris Bryant could...

Keith Law, baseball's most visible draft expect, says the Cubs will jump on Stanford senior Mark Appel with the second overall pick in baseball's June draft if the Astros don't take him first. He made that comment during a telecast of Stanford's 5-3...

Talking baseball while wishing the Bulls could get a do-over for the final minute Thursday night: 1. Rarely do I do this, but I’m going to tout a television show. The best baseball tonight might be found on ESPNU, where the Stanford-Arizona...

Last week's ranking in parentheses 1. Rangers (4): They're 6-1 in starts by No. 5 and 6 starters Nick Tepesch and Justin Grimm. Move to the first spot because other teams ranked in the top 5 were 9-17 last week. 2. Tigers (6): Very impressive in...

Javier Baez is considered widely to be the best prospect in the Cubs' farm system. His counterpart for the White Sox is Courtney Hawkins. Baez, a 20-year-old shortstop, and Hawkins, a 19-year-old center fielder, both have tremendous hitting skills. They...

Talking baseball while wondering if Tom Thibodeau can make Deron Williams’ homecoming unpleasant: 1. When Robin Ventura introduced it in spring training, I loved the White Sox’s realigned batting order, with the 3-4-5 combination of Alex...

Like his bosses, Mike Foltynewicz is a baseball optimist. He can see the Astros rising out of the ashes they find themselves in at the beginning of the Jim Crane era. "In three or four years, we're going to be a fun team,'' said Foltynewicz, a 21-year-...

There's a lot of time for this change but it looks like the Astros will choose between Oklahoma's Jonathan Gray and Stanford's Mark Appel with the first pick in the June draft, with the other being there for the Cubs, who pick second. Gray, a right-hander...