Stanford Cardinal right handed pitcher Mark Appel has been blowing batters away and impressing scouts for a while now, but he can finally call himself a major league ball player after the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him No. 8 overall in the 2012 First-Year MLB Draft.

Seen by many as having the 'total-package' for a pticher, Appel was a 2012 All-American and All-Pac 12 first team member. He owns an 18-9 record with a 3.10 career ERA over three seasons with the Card, pitching 267.1 total innings with 239 strikeouts and 74 walks, along wth 250 hits. Opponents are hitting .251 against him over his college career. He and his Cardinal are currently in the Super Regional round of the 2012 college world series.

Appel was drafted in the 15th round by the Detroit Tigers out of high school, but decided to attend Stanford instead. What a difference a few years make, as he is now a first round pick.

For more on the Stanford Cardinal, head over to Rule of Tree. For more on the Pirates head over to the Bucs Dugout. For more on the MLB draft in general, check out Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish.