Check to see if the branch is coming from below a graft line. If so it is the understock or even rootstock sprouting. If that is the case, you will want to remove it.

Thanks for the response. I didn't consider the graft line so I went out and took a few more pictures. The first branch appears to be above the graft line.

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This picture shows the fast growth limb attached to the branch you see in the first picture, but this branch doesn't have the same growth characteristics.

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Is the rest of that branch dead? If yes, you have (1) bud that went for the moon... with the supplied, built-up energy from the roots.

Dax

Yes most of the branch died back over the winter leaving only a few existing buds lower on the branch.. All other branches have many more buds on them. I need to prune back the dead part of the branch. Thanks for your help.

You could keep and use the old branch and tie the vigorous sprout to it with stretch tape: gardening tape, electrical tape, even duct tape as to form a replacement branch thus keeping the same branch-uniformity of the older. Once the wood of the new branch has matured and is rigid, cut off the old.

Dax