Grasping an apple without damaging it is a completely different failure mode than handling a uniform ball, and this is not just a simple "specialization".
A ball does not have weak points or the thin skin of an apple, and the weak link here is the absence of sensors for fruit variability.
You can program the robot not to crush a ball, but an apple requires ultra-precise pressure detection and adaptability to defects, like when sorting fruits for the market, where the slightest bump means it won't be sold.