These Are the Most Overrated MLB Players Ever
Every MLB has a high prospect that never quite made it. They thought they were getting a every day starter or ace instead they got nothing. These are the most over hyped prospects gone wrong.
Baltimore Orioles: Adam Loewen (LHP)
He was drafted 4th overall in 2002 and remains the highest picked Canadian high school player ever. He showed promise but posted a 5.85 ERA in the majors over five seasons.
Boston Red Sox: Blake Swihart (C)
Swihart was the top catching prospect in baseball entering the 2015 season. The switch hitter never brought that production to the majors with a negative WAR in 234 games.
New York Yankees- Brien Taylor (LHP)
He was dubbed as a generational talent. And was the first overall pick in 1991. He dominates the minors for two seasons then gets in a bar fight and gets a shoulder injury that derails his career.
Tampa Bay Rays: Josh Hamilton (OF)
Hamilton was the first overall pick in 1999 and was baseball's best prospect. But off field incidents ruined his time with Rays and never played a game. Then he became a star later in his career for the Rangers.
Toronto Blue Jays: Kyle Drabek (RHP)
His dad was an all-star and he was the 18th overall pick in 2006. He never developed in the majors going 8-15 with a 5.26 ERA.
Chicago White Sox- Joe Borchard (OF)
He was a two sport star (QB) at Stanford. He was the 12th overall pick in 2000. He hit just .205 in 300+ games in his MLB career.
Cleveland Guardians/Indians - Matt La Porta (1B/OF)
He was acquired by Cleveland in the CC Sabathia trade and was a top 25 prospect in 2008. He was a former first rounder with power. He never adjusted the big leagues.
Detroit Tigers- Jacob Turner (RHP)
Turner was the 9th overall pick in 2009. Detroit rushed him to the majors and might have spelled his doom. He had a -2.5 WAR over 7 seasons.
Kansas City Royals- Bubba Starling (OF)
He was a local two sport phenom. He was the 5th overall pick in 2011. He had 5 tool potential and dreams. But never did he ever develop in the majors.
Minnesota Twins- Adam Johnson (RHP)
Johnson was the 2nd overall pick in 2000. The twins hoped his bulldog mentality would hlp him be great. But it didn't do that. He played 9 career MLB games.
Houston Astros- Mark Appeal (RHP)
He famously turned down the Pirates as a first round pick in 2012. he then went first overall to Houston in 2013. He never threw a pitch for the Astros in the big league level.
Los Angeles Angels- Brandon Wood (SS/3B)
He was once the most feared sluggers in the minors. He was ranked 3rd overall as a prospect in 2006. He had just a .514 OPS in MLB.
Oakland Athletics- Todd Van Poppel (RHP)
Van Poppel was a prep pitcher and scared teams off due to his bonus demands. He was America's best prospect in 1991. However, injuries and poor performance made him a failure at MLB level.
Seattle Mariners- Ryan Anderson (LHP)
His nickname was "The Little Unit" and was a 6 foot 10 lefty with a blazing fastball. He struck out in 1999 in the minors 460 batters in 349 innings. But injuries struck hard and never made the Mariners big league roster.
Texas Rangers- Ruben Mateo (OF)
He was the number 6 overall prospect in 2000. He had a .336 average and 18 HRs in just 63 AAA games. But a broken leg derailed his career.
Atlanta Braves: Wilson Betemit (SS)
He was once a top 10 prospect in 2002. He wasn't a complete failure but was just a journeyman MLB player.
Miami Marlins- Tyler Kolek (RHP)
He was the 2nd overall pick in 2014. He threw 102 MPH as a teenager. He never advanced beyond Single A ball.
New York Mets- Bill Pulispher (LHP)
In 1994 the Mets were excited as he was living up to the hype in the minors. But once he got to the majors a 5.15 ERA over 327 innings was not what the Mets expected.
Philadelphia Phillies- Domonic Brown (OF)
He had all the tools and was the 4th best prospect in 2011. He even made an all-star team with a torrid 2013 first half in MLB. But then he fizzled out and was out of the majors by age 28.
Washington Nationals: Victor Robles (OF)
In 2018 he was a top 5 prospect in baseball. By age 22 he was a everyday CF. Then he stalled quickly. He's had a resurgence with the Seattle Mariners.
Chicago Cubs- Josh Vitters (3B)
Vitters was the third overall pick in 2007. He came in to MLB in 2012 and hit .121 in 109 Pa.
Cincinnati Reds- Nick Senzel (IF/OF)
Elite college bat and picked 2nd overall in 2016 he was fast tracked to the majors. This is where he failed quick. He had just a 77 OPS+ in four seasons.
Milwaukee Brewers: Nick Neugebauer (RHP)
He climbed the ranks quick in the minors and reached the majors. In 13 games in MLB he had a 4.99 ERA and then injuries cut his career short.
Pittsburgh Pirates: John Van Benschoten (RHP)
He led division 1 in home runs in 2001. Drafted 8th overall as a PITCHER instead. He had 90 career innings and had a 9.20 ERA.
St. Louis Cardinals- Rick Ankiel (LHP)
One of the most infamous stories. He was an amazing rookie with a 3.50 ERA and 2nd in ROY voting. But then he lost all ability to throw strikes and had the yips. He later returned as a OF.
Arizona Diamondbacks- Corey Myers (SS)
The Dbacks first ever high draft pick. 4th overall, the local product came in with a ton of fan fare. He never appeared in a major league game.
Colorado Rockies- Chin-Hui Tsao (RHP)
He was the Rockies first ever big international signing. He got a $2.2 million bonus coming out of Taiwan in 1999. He tore through the minors but had a 5.75 ERA in 97 MLB innings.
Los Angeles Dodgers- Joel Guzman (SS)
Guzman was a headline signing from the Dominican as a 16 year old in 2001. He logged just 62 plate appearances in MLB.
San Diego Padres- Donovan Tate (OF)
He was a great two sport athlete. He was taken 3rd overall. He never rose about High-A ball.
San Francisco Giants- Gary Brown (OF)
He was a 2010 first round pick and looked like a star in the minors. He stalled out in AAA and got up for one brief call-up to MLB in 2014.