Sherten Apostel

Position: 3B
Level: Instructs
Affiliate: Rangers Instructs
League: Instructional League
Born: 03/11/1999 (Age: 25)
Height: 6'4
Weight: 213
B/T: Right / Right
Acquired: Signed as International Free Agent July 2, 2015 (PIT); Traded to TEX 8/17/2018

Prospect Spotlight

A big teenage third baseman from Curacao, Apostal was acquired in August by Texas from Pittsburgh as a PTBNL in the Keone Kela (RHP, Pirates) trade-deadline deal. The Pirates signed Apostal in the 2015 J2 free-agent signing period as a projectable 16 year old for $200K. I saw Apostal in Bristol for four games in August, right before he was traded to the Rangers. My first looks at him in a Texas uniform came this October during Instructional League.

Apostel’s physicality stands out immediately, standing 6-foot-4 and looking every ounce of his 215-pound listed weight. Power is the calling card here, and he shows present 55-grade raw pop that projects to plus once he fills out and firms up. Apostel is a free swinger with an aggressive approach, but he shows solid zone awareness, and the ability to take a walk (22% walk rate in 175 PA’s) . With loose hands and average feel for the barrel, he’s able to punish both fastballs up, and average spin in the zone, and he’s showing it in games already. His swing has length and violence, limiting the hit tool to future 40-grade that will pair with average game power. Defensively, Apostel is currently fringe-average at the hot corner with below-average foot speed.  His footwork is solid for his size, and the glovework and transfers workable, making Apostel capable of sticking at the position early in his career or in short spurts. As he matures, he is likely to to move across the infield to first base or give the corner outfield a try. His arm is plus, adding value and versatility if he’s ever in a utility role moving between corner positions.

Apostel’s absolute best-case ceiling looks something like Nolan Jones (3B, Indians), right down to the potential move to first base, but I’m skeptical that he makes enough contact to profile as a regular. Apostel has power upside and some on-base ability, profiling as a Role 45 three-true-outcomes player, with the defensive utility to be a strong bench bat and occasional starter at three positions.