Report: Reasons to be concerned about Mark Appel

After Astros pitching prospect Mark Appel was blasted for 10 earned runs in 1 1/3 innings during a start with high Class A Lancaster at the end of May, "there are plenty of reasons to be concerned that the early struggles are a strong indicator he'll never reach the front-end starter projection placed on him," Baseball America reports.

Appel's 10-run start was the worst by a top college draftee this century, scoring negative-five in terms of the statistic Game Score. Appel has actually had two of the worst eight Game Scores by a college pitcher picked in the top three in their first two pro seasons this century, and the track record isn't great for other qualified pitchers who own the worst 20 starts.

Pro scouts who saw him pitch last year said that "he lacked an out pitch, didn't exhibit much feel for pitching and generally didn't have sharp secondary stuff to go with his fastball." These early indicators are not proof of future results, but he now has some road to travel before he'll garner the same elite status that made him the No. 1 pick of the 2013 draft.